Awaab's Law came into force in October 2025, requiring social landlords to investigate and resolve damp and mould in homes within set time periods1. The Centre for Sustainable Energy states that the law "came into force in October 2025 to ensure that everyone has access to a safe home" and that a social landlord has a duty to fix reported damp, mould and emergency repairs by law2.
The Energy Innovation Needs Assessment, commissioned by the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero and delivered by a consortium led by the Carbon Trust, records the change in its June 2025 report: "From October 2025, Awaab's Law will require social landlords to investigate and resolve damp and mould in homes within set time periods"1. Retrofitworks, which works on retrofit projects, notes that the law "further enforces this, especially for social housing", in the context of ventilation standards aligned with Approved Document F, under which upgraded systems such as MEV or MVHR must be specified where mould or condensation is evident3.
On timescales, the Centre for Sustainable Energy states that serious cases of damp and mould must be investigated within 10 working days of being reported2. No further deadlines, or the full set of time periods for investigation and resolution, are set out in the available material.
The guidance distinguishes the causes of damp. Condensation is the most common cause, recognised by the black mould it causes, small black dots near cold surfaces such as window frames; the majority of mould growth in homes is caused by condensation2. Penetrating damp is the second most likely cause, and rising damp the least likely, most commonly caused by a defective damp-proof course2. Mould spores can exist in walls up to a metre around the visible patch2.
| Cause of damp | Position given |
|---|---|
| Condensation | Most common cause of damp2 |
| Penetrating damp | Second most likely cause2 |
| Rising damp | Least likely cause2 |
The same guidance gives figures for managing indoor moisture. Relative humidity in the home is recommended at between 40 and 60 per cent, with a risk of mould growth above 60 per cent2. Hygrometers can be bought for as little as £8.00, and dehumidifiers that remove at least 5 litres of water every 24 hours start at around £100, running at around 17p per hour based on an electricity price of 27p per kWh in November 20232.
Why it matters for households
For social tenants, the change puts a legal duty on the landlord to act on reported damp and mould within set periods, rather than leaving the household to manage the problem alone1. That shifts the practical burden: a report of damp or mould starts a process the landlord must follow, and the condition of the home becomes a matter of enforcement rather than a private dispute.
Damp and mould also bear directly on a home's energy performance. Condensation is driven by inadequate ventilation, excessive moisture from cooking, showering and drying laundry indoors, missing or incomplete insulation creating cold spots, and inadequate heating leaving lower surface temperatures2. Insulation is one of the measures the guidance lists for homeowners, housing providers and landlords, because it raises the inside temperature so the air holds more moisture before it condenses2. The Energy Innovation Needs Assessment reports that approximately 70 per cent of heat loss from an uninsulated house occurs through the roof, wall and floors, and that the UK has the highest rates of building heat loss in Western Europe, in part due to the age of its building stock1. A home that is cold and poorly ventilated is therefore more likely to produce the conditions the law now addresses.
Where retrofit work is publicly funded, the standards governing assessment, design and installation are PAS 2035 and PAS 2030, which became the active standard after an 18-month transition period ended3. Retrofitworks states that these standards are mandatory for schemes including ECO4, SHDF, GBIS, HUG and the new Warm Homes Local Grant, and are enforced through TrustMark3.
What happens next
No further dated steps are set out in the available material. The Energy Innovation Needs Assessment records that in January 2025, following widespread failures in solid wall insulation, the UK government suspended 39 insulation installers, proposed major changes to the regulatory system and began plans for repairing failed installations1.
Sources3 cited
- Energy Innovation Needs Assessment: Heat and buildings, assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
- Condensation, damp and mould - Centre for Sustainable Energy, cse.org.uk
- Understanding PAS – Retrofitworks, retrofitworks.co.uk