Awaab’s Law enters its second phase on 30 November 2026, building upon the list of hazards posing a significant risk to residents that social landlords must address within a set timeframe.
What does Phase 2 cover?
A further seven hazards have been identified by Awaab’s Law. The following hazards, if caused by a fault in the building owned by Local Space, are our responsibility:
- Excessive cold (caused by inadequate heating, poor insulation or defective boilers).
- Excessive heat (caused by poor ventilation, inadequate shading or design flaws).
- Fall hazards across your building (associated with baths, stairs, level surfaces and between levels).
- Structural collapse.
- Fire and explosions.
- Electrical hazards.
- Conditions that prevent residents being able to maintain basic domestic hygiene standards (including pest infestations and food safety).
When you report any of these hazards to us, we will assess your report, taking into consideration your personal circumstances, and assign what priority action is required, using the following timelines:
- Investigate and make your home safe within 24 hours, if deemed an emergency.
- Investigate and make your home safe within five working days, if deemed significant.
- Investigate within 10 working days for serious but non-critical items.
- Provide you with a written summary after the investigation, within three working days.
- Begin works in your home to remove or reduce significant hazards identified within five working days, following the investigation.
- Begin works to address the root causes identified within a maximum of 12 weeks, following the investigation.
- Check in on you after completion of the works to ensure that the hazard does not persist in your home.
Reporting emergency repairs
The way that you report emergency repairs remains unchanged.
If your tenancy is managed by the London Borough of Newham, please phone 020 8221 4014 and select Option 2.
If your tenancy is managed by Local Space, please phone 020 8221 4000 and select Option 2.
The third and final Phase of Awaab’s Law is due in 2027. We will inform you of the remaining changes upon their implementation.
A reminder of what Awaab’s Law is, and what changed under Phase 1
Awaab Ishak, aged two, died after prolonged exposure to mould at his home in 2020. Awaab’s Law was introduced to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again.
Phase 1 became law on 27 October 2025, concentrating on the identification and addressing of damp and mould.
As your social landlord, we must address all emergency hazards and damp and mould hazards that present a significant risk of harm to you, within strict timeframes. If we do not meet the requirements set out in Awaab’s Law, you have a right to hold us to account by following our complaints process.