Awaab's Law: A Step Forward, But Who Protects the Unprotected?

The Legacy of Awaab Ishak

When two-year-old Awaab Ishak tragically died in 2020 from prolonged exposure to mould in his family's housing association flat, it shocked the nation. His parents, Faisal and Aisha, transformed their heart-wrenching loss into a monumental campaign for housing justice that led to the enactment of Awaab's Law. This landmark legislation aims to hold social landlords accountable for ensuring safe living conditions.

A Landmark Victory

This law mandates that social landlords must investigate and repair hazardous issues like mould within strict timeframes. It reaffirms a vital truth: everyone deserves a home that is safe and suitable for habitation. Awaab's parents are deserving of our utmost admiration; they refused to let their son's death become merely a statistic in the ongoing housing crisis. Their relentless advocacy has spurred a much-needed reckoning in social housing, a sector that for too long has prioritized bureaucracy over human lives.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Awaab's parents; their courage may well save many lives.

The Gaping Hole in Protections

Yet, while Awaab's Law is undoubtedly a pivotal step forward, its scope is alarmingly narrow. Currently applicable only to social housing, it excludes millions of private sector renters and countless families trapped in inadequate temporary accommodations. These vulnerable groups often endure nightmarish living conditions—homes riddled with mould, leaking ceilings, ineffective heating, and dangerous electrical systems.

Each week, I hear testimonies from individuals facing severe neglect in their homes, predominantly in the private rented sector. Families are left to manage hazardous mould while their children suffer from respiratory ailments, highlighting a dire lack of accountability from private landlords. The private rented sector is home to over 11 million people in England, including many of society's most vulnerable, yet these individuals have little recourse if they complain. Revenge evictions and skyrocketing rents contribute to their entrapment.

Poverty and Housing: A Public Health Crisis

Even more concerning is the plight of families caught in the temporary accommodation system—supposedly a short-term refuge but often a long-term trap. Over 100,000 households, including 172,000 children, are currently enduring substandard living conditions in these temporary placements. Many renters in these situations lack the legal standing to demand repairs or voice grievances, an oversight that essentially leaves them unprotected.

A Comprehensive Approach to Housing Safety

We cannot celebrate Awaab's Law while allowing countless families to slip through the cracks of our housing system. The law must be amended to encompass private rental and temporary housing, ensuring that all landlords—be they social, private, or contracted—are held to the same baseline standard: providing safe, habitable homes within enforceable time limits.

However, even expanding the law won't suffice unless it is adequately funded and rigorously enforced. Many local authorities are already overburdened and under-resourced, lacking the staff or training necessary to effectively oversee housing conditions. Without sufficient resources for enforcement, Awaab's Law risks becoming another hollow promise.

Restoring Health and Dignity

The ramifications of neglecting safe housing are dire. Mould and damp conditions not only threaten physical health but can lead to chronic psychological distress. The NHS allocates approximately £1.4 billion annually to treat health issues that arise from substandard housing. This isn't merely a matter of justice; it's an urgent public health issue requiring immediate governmental action.

If the government is serious about honoring Awaab's legacy, actionable steps must be taken:

1. Extend the law to cover private renters and those living in temporary housing.
2. Properly fund local authorities so they can enforce safety standards and handle complaints.
3. Protect tenants from eviction or retaliation when they speak out about unsafe living conditions.

We owe this not only to Awaab but to every child currently sleeping in an unsafe, cold, and damp home.

Continuing the Fight for Justice

Awaab's Law serves as an important reminder: real change is only achieved when communities unite and demand it. With this crucial step forward, we must ensure that all renters are protected, and no one is left behind as we advocate for a safe and dignified living environment for everyone.

Until every family can reside in safety and dignity, our work remains unfinished.