Leading British ventilation manufacturer Vent-Axia has welcomed the Government’s recent publication of ‘Awaab’s Law: Draft guidance for social landlords’, following Awaab’s Law being laid out in front of Parliament on 25 June 2025.

With phase 1 of the law set to take effect on 27 October 2025, the draft guidance marks a critical step in helping social housing landlords prepare for their legal obligations. The law was initiated following the tragic death of 2-year-old Awaab Ishak, due to a mouldy home. Part of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act, Awaab’s Law is set to impose strict requirements on social housing landlords to investigate and resolve issues of damp and mould within specified timeframes, helping residents gain faster repairs and reducing health risks.

The draft guidance has been published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to help social landlords understand and navigate their responsibilities in relation to Awaab’s Law. It sets out clear expectations for social landlords to address damp and mould hazards quickly and consistently. This includes strict timelines for investigating and rectifying emergency and significant hazards, with emergency hazards requiring investigation and safety work, if required, to be carried out within 24 hours. Meanwhile, significant hazards must be investigated within 10 working days, with safety work carried out within 5 working days of the investigation concluding.

The guidance also advises that the application of Awaabs’ Law will be case-specific, so social housing landlords will need to apply their own judgment depending on the circumstances. To support consistent and appropriate responses, landlords are advised to put in place clear internal policies, backed by strong governance and oversight. These policies should help ensure Awaab’s Law is applied fairly and effectively across housing stock, while also demonstrating that landlords are meeting their legal responsibilities. It is also essential to maintain clear, proactive, and consistent communication with tenants, and good record keeping. All these measures are vital since landlords will be required to show that they have taken reasonable steps where delays are unavoidable.

'We welcome the Government’s publication of "Awaab’s Law: Draft guidance for social landlords" since it provides practical examples of how the law can be applied, allowing landlords to use judgment on individual cases depending on circumstances. It offers valuable advice on how to ensure compliance and, most importantly, protects tenants, since addressing mould and damp is crucial for safeguarding residents’ well-being. No one should live in a home with mould and damp, and landlords have a duty of care to their residents to help ensure they live in a healthy environment,' said Ashley Smith, Product Manager at Vent-Axia. 'Effective ventilation is vital to improve indoor air quality and plays a crucial role in tackling condensation and mould. At Vent-Axia we work closely with landlords to help them choose the right ventilation for their individual property so they meet their duty of care.'

Under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 landlords already have a legal requirement to provide rental properties that are fit for human habitation, including the need for effective ventilation and freedom from damp and mould. Vent-Axia can help landlords meet their duty of care with the right ventilation solution for each property. There are different types of ventilation available depending on the property type and whether there is already a mould problem, with Vent-Axia able to offer a range of effective, energy-efficient ventilation.

Image: Vent-Axia Lo-Carbon PoziDry Pro.

The Heat Recovery Retrofit Solution from Vent-Axia has been specifically designed for easy, lower-cost retrofit of heat recovery to save maximum energy and emissions and comply with the requirements of PAS 2035 in the social housing sector. The Heat Recovery Retrofit Solution range consists of three different Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery units, which can be used together to help improve IAQ and maximise energy savings by introducing heat recovery to the property. The range comprises: the Lo-Carbon Heat Save, and the Lo-Carbon Tempra which are both wall-mounted through-the-wall units and the Lo-Carbon Calido, which utilises a simplified ducting system that can run within the home to supply heat recovered fresh air to a different room.

Another ventilation option for landlords is the intelligent Lo-Carbon Revive 7, a filter-less unitary fan that features an adjustable trickle speed option, advanced humidity sensing and controls, as well as a raft of useful original features to provide powerful, quiet and efficient ventilation, all with a 7-year guarantee. Alternatively, the intelligent Lo-Carbon Response 7 is a filter-less unitary fan that features an ultra-low profile for discreet installation; increased airflow performance; a digital control menu; as well as a 7-year guarantee. Ticking all the right boxes for social housing the Revive 7 and Response 7 both boast powerful, quiet and efficient ventilation, helping provide good indoor air quality and comfort for residents, while being quick and easy to install, low maintenance and reliable.

For properties with hard-to-treat mould, Vent-Axia’s PIV units, the Lo-Carbon PoziDry Pro™ and Lo-Carbon PoziDry™ Compact Pro are the ideal solutions. Designed to improve IAQ and prevent moisture build-up within social housing properties, the PoziDry range provides a highly effective solution to help households and landlords control condensation and mould, while offering high levels of air filtration. Providing fresh, tempered air into the home the PoziDry range creates an indoor environment where condensation and mould find it hard to exist, benefiting occupants and avoiding the damaging effects on the building. The PoziDry Pro™ is designed for properties with loft space to install the unit, while Vent-Axia’s Lo-Carbon PoziDry™ Compact Pro is ideal for properties, such as flats, without a loft.

Phase 1 of Awaab’s Law will be enforceable through tenancy law from 27 October 2025. If landlords do not comply, tenants will be able to seek redress. The Government will publish tenant guidance ahead of the implementation date.

Although the policy set out in Regulations will not be subject to change before 27 October 2025, the draft guidance may be subject to revisions to ensure that, when finalised, it is as helpful as possible. The Government welcomes any feedback on where further clarification or additional information would be helpful. Feedback can be sent to: socialhousingsafety@communities.gov.uk

For further information on ‘Awaab’s Law: Draft guidance for social landlords’ visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/awaabs-law-draft-guidance-for-social-landlords/awaabs-law-draft-guidance-for-social-landlords

For social housing landlords requiring further ventilation advice visit Vent-Axia’s social housing hub: https://www.vent-axia.com/social-housing.

For further information on all products and services offered by Vent-Axia telephone +44 (0)344 856 0590 or visit www.vent-axia.com