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Social landlords in England are being forced to fix emergencies within 24 hours under a new law which kicks in today. The new law follows the tragic case of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who died after exposure to mould in his home. The new legal duties compel landlords to fix emergency health and safety hazards within 24 hours of reporting. Labour Party housing secretary, Steve Reed, said: “Everyone deserves a safe and decent home to live in, and Awaab Ishak is a powerful reminder of how this can sadly be a matter of life or death. “Awaab’s family has fought hard for change and their work to protect millions of tenants’ lives will live on as a legacy to their son. Our changes will give tenants a stronger voice and force landlords to act urgently when lives are at risk, ensuring such tragedies are never repeated.” READ MORE Thousands of Blue Badge holders issued update over free bus travel Gavin Smart, the chief executive at the Chartered Institute of Housing, said: “We welcome Awaab’s law as a significant step in ensuring that all social housing tenants live in safe and decent homes. "It is the culmination of committed efforts by Awaab Ishak’s family and provides an important new framework for addressing serious health and safety concerns, beginning with damp and mould. “Social landlords have been preparing for this change and have new processes in place to respond to these new requirements. "We also welcome the new funding to enhance tenant engagement, a vital investment to help build cultures of trust, accountability and safety in social housing.” Kate Henderson, Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation, said: “The quality and safety of residents’ homes is housing associations’ top priority, and today represents an important milestone in our sector’s drive to ensure all our homes are the standard residents deserve. “Since 2020 housing associations have increased spending on repairs and maintenance by 55%, with plans to spend a further £50bn over the next five years. This is why 90% of our homes meet the decent homes standard, more than all other tenures. “But as landlords rooted in social purpose, we want all of our residents to enjoy the highest standards of comfort, safety and quality. "This is why, following the tragic death of Awaab Ishak, we have supported this law from the beginning and have worked closely with the government to ensure its introduction will provide the most positive outcomes for residents. “These reforms, alongside the government’s 10-year funding settlement and commitment to a decade of renewal for social and affordable housing, put housing associations on the sure footing needed to both continue investing in existing homes while having the confidence to build new ones. "This will ease overcrowding pressures, which are a major contributor to damp and mould, and get to the root of addressing the housing crisis once and for all.”
