This archive article explains the initial Awaab’s Law repair framework described in the government’s 2025 tenant guidance for social housing in England. Reviewed on 15 October 2026, it is a dated account of that framework, not a complete guide to subsequent phases or private tenancies.
The initial deadlines
The guidance requires emergency hazards to be investigated and made safe within 24 hours of the landlord becoming aware. Significant damp and mould hazards have a different sequence: investigation within ten working days, followed by safety work within five working days of the investigation concluding.
Where the home cannot be made safe within the required period, the landlord must offer suitable alternative accommodation. The guidance applies to covered social tenancies; some temporary or supported accommodation uses licences, so the actual agreement matters. Do not assume every housing arrangement falls within the same framework.
Make a repair report easy to follow
Use the landlord’s official reporting route and keep the reference number. Describe the problem, where it is and when it was first noticed. If you can safely provide photographs, date them and keep copies alongside the report. Do not put yourself at risk to gather evidence.
Keep a short chronology of reports, responses and appointments. Record what was said would happen next and distinguish an inspection from completion of the work. If the condition changes, explain the change rather than assuming an earlier report fully describes the current situation.
Check the current route for unresolved problems
Ask for clarification if the response does not explain the next action. Use the landlord’s complaints process where appropriate and obtain housing advice about unresolved concerns. The government guidance identifies the Housing Ombudsman as a route after the landlord’s final complaint response.
For a current case, consult the latest official guidance, including later implementation phases, and check the tenancy type. The practical purpose of the record is to make the facts clear to those handling the repair or complaint. It does not replace urgent action where someone is in immediate danger.