Roofing Contractors told ‘Prepare Now’ for New Social Housing Law

ROOFING CONTRACTORS are being warned to prepare now for the implementation of a new social housing law addressing health hazards like damp and mould.

Awaab’s Law was introduced for the social housing sector in 2023, in response to the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak. Awaab died as a direct result of exposure to mould in the social home his family rented.

The call out comes from roofing accessories supplier, Klober, and follows on from announcements that Awaab’s Law will be expanded to the private rented sector (PRS) through the Renters’ Rights Bill.

Klober is encouraging roofers to be aware of what this means for them, as they will likely be on the front-line of supporting private and social landlords with remedying poorly ventilated homes.

The Government has estimated that the number of homes in England with damp and mould ranges from 4% to 27% of homes (962,000 to 6.5 million households). Awaab’s Law will require landlords to investigate reports of damp and mould within two weeks, and repair them within one further week, with only 24 hours given to repair ‘emergency’ hazards.

In particular, the roofing accessories specialist suggests that roofers regularly check their stock of roof tile vents, so these materials are readily at hand to ventilate the roof space, or to be an outlet for mechanical ventilation.

Nick King, Klober Portfolio Manager 

Nick King, Portfolio Manager at Klober said: “There is a risk that mould can quickly spread and grow, from the roof and into the living space of a property. Resolving damp and mould issues in the home is extremely important, and roofing contractors have a critical role to play here.

“The rapid rate at which repairs will soon need to be completed could mean several things for contractors. Whether that is carrying more equipment and supplies with them at all times, or prioritising clients and work differently, Awaab’s Law will force a sweeping change across the industry, and it is essential roofers react and prepare now.”

Awaab’s Law

Awaab’s Law was introduced in July 2023 through the landmark Social Housing Regulation Act 2023, under Clause 42 ‘Social housing leases: remedying hazards’. Under this legislation, since 1 April 2024, all social housing providers in England must ensure their tenants’ safety by staying aware of the conditions of homes they let and the people they house.

The government launched a consultation earlier this year, with the primary purpose of setting the exact timeframes within which any health hazards must be fixed. These timeframes will be mandated by law through secondary legislation, which is widely expected to arrive later this year.

Nick explains: “Awaab’s Law and the implementation of these timescales will mean roofing contractors must be vigilant and aware of ways they can effectively ventilate a roof space or home. Equally, they must know how to prevent water ingress into the roof space and carry out remediation work quickly, as this is one of the leading causes of damp. Any roofing contractors who have questions or concerns around roof space ventilation can always reach out to us for help.”

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