Housing Regulations: Addressing Awaab's Law

Why Process Management is Essential for Social Housing Compliance

Addressing Awaab's Law

The tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in 2020, caused by prolonged exposure to mould in his family's social housing, was a devastating reminder of what can happen when critical issues are left unresolved. 

In response, the UK Government introduced Awaab's Law which will be implemented starting October 2025. This legislation sets legal timeframes for tackling health and safety hazards such as damp and mould, and places accountability on social housing providers. 

What is Awaab's Law?

Awaab's Law requires housing providers to take timely and transparent action when hazards are reported. Under the law, landlords must:

• Acknowledge complaints quickly and efficiently 
• Investigate hazards within specific deadlines
• Complete repairs within legally defined timeframes
• Provide tenants with clear updates on progress

Failure to comply doesn't just risk financial penalties, it puts tenant health and safety at risk. 

Why Process Management Matters in Housing Compliance

At its core, Awaab's Law is about accountability and consistency. But compliance is only possible if stakeholders clearly understand their roles and impact, and if housing providers have clear, auditable processes in place. 

This also sets the foundation for continuous improvement and agile organisations that can readily respond to change. 

Strong process management in housing ensures:

✔ Clarity of responsibilities - Who logs the complaint? Who investigates? Who approves repairs? Every step must be transparent. 

✔ Speed of action - Legal deadlines require quick, well-defined responses. 

✔ Collaboration across teams - Housing officers, maintenance teams, contractors, and tenant services must work seamlessly together and have a common view of processes. 

✔ Evidence and reporting - Accurate records, audit trails, and performance data are essential to prove compliance. 

Without clear end-to-end processes, meeting the demands of Awaab's Law can become an overwhelming challenge. 

The Benefits of Process Management for Housing Providers

Effective process management tools help housing providers to:

• Identify bottlenecks, risks, and delays in repair handling
• Deliver faster, more consistent tenant services
• Build trust and accountability with residents
• Remain audit ready through legal compliance

Process management helps to transform compliance from a checklist exercise into a proactive approach for improving tenant outcomes. 

How Engage Process Supports Compliance with Awaab's Law

At Engage Process, we work with Housing Associations and Partners of all sizes, from G15 members to smaller providers and consultants, helping them gain a clear 360-degree view of their operations. 

Our platform enables housing providers to:

• Map repair and compliant-handling processes to identify risks and inefficiencies
• Compare "as-is" and "to-be" processes to measure and drive improvement 
• Facilitate collaboration across teams in a single, central platform
• Use swim lane views to easily visualise responsibilities across staff, contractors, and systems
• Publish processes and manage feedback with external stakeholders, all within one platform

With Engage Process, housing providers can move beyond compliance to build safe, responsive, and tenant-focused services that align with the demands of Awaab's Law. 

Collaborative Compliance

Awaab's Law has made process management a legal necessity for housing providers. Getting your processes right is no longer optional - it's the foundation of compliance, safety, and organisational trust. 

With Engage Process, housing providers can bring teams together and create a more agile and compliant organisation to better serve their communities. 

To learn more about our impact in Housing, visit our Housing page here.