Does Awaab's Law apply to private landlords?

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Not yet. Awaab's Law currently applies to social housing [1]. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 contains the power to extend it to private renting, but the timescales and detail must be set in regulations, and the government roadmap lists it under Phase 3 with no date yet [2][3]. Until then, private landlords must repair within a reasonable time and keep homes fit for human habitation [3].

Does Awaab's Law apply to private landlords?

Not yet. Social landlords already work to the timescales below, and the government roadmap puts the private-rented extension in Phase 3 with no date yet [1][2][3]. What counts as a reasonable time for private landlords today is in how long a landlord has to do repairs.

What social landlords must do now (the likely template)

  • Investigate emergency hazards and make them safe within 24 hours [1].
  • Investigate significant hazards within 10 working days [1].
  • Give the tenant a written summary within 3 working days of the investigation ending [1].
  • Carry out safety work within 5 working days of the investigation, if a significant hazard is found [1].

How to prepare

  1. Give tenants one clear way to report problems, with photos. A repair link is one way to do that.
  2. Record the date you became aware of each problem.
  3. Keep every update and outcome against the property.

Gaffy timestamps each request with its photos and status. It's free for the first month, with no card.

Start free for 1 month

Awaab's Law FAQs

When will Awaab's Law apply to private rentals?

No date has been set. The roadmap lists it in Phase 3 [2].

Will the timescales be the same as for social housing?

That will be set in regulations after consultation [3].

How can Gaffy help me prepare?

Every repair request in Gaffy is timestamped with its photos and status history. Gaffy flags gas safety, EICR and EPC certificates before they expire and gives your tenants a repair link that needs no app. The first month is free, then it's £12 a month for up to 5 properties, plus £4 a month for each additional property.

Sources

  1. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/awaabs-law-guidance-for-social-landlords/awaabs-law-guidance-for-social-landlords-timeframes-for-repairs-in-the-social-rented-sector
  2. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/renters-rights-act-2025-implementation-roadmap/implementing-the-renters-rights-act-2025-our-roadmap-for-reforming-the-private-rented-sector
  3. https://theindependentlandlord.com/awaabs-law/

General information, not legal advice.