Awaab's Law Training for Social Housing

Awaab Ishak was two years old when he died in December 2020 after prolonged exposure to mould in his family's housing association home. His family had reported the damp and mould repeatedly. Awaab's Law, which came into force on 27th October 2025, now sets legal deadlines for how social landlords in England respond to hazards in tenants' homes.

The deadlines start when the landlord becomes aware of a hazard, and that can happen through a single phone call, a contractor's report or something a housing officer notices on a visit. This course shows front-line staff what counts as becoming aware, which questions to ask when taking a report, and how the circumstances of the people living in the home decide whether a hazard is an emergency.

It sets out each step in working days: investigating, sending the tenant a written summary, making the home safe, starting work to stop the problem coming back, and offering suitable alternative accommodation when the home cannot be made safe in time. It also covers getting access, keeping records that show reasonable endeavours, and why staff must never put damp and mould down to a tenant's lifestyle.

The course explains how mould grows, who is most at risk and how it can be prevented and safely removed.

Who should take this course?

This course is for anyone working for a social landlord in England whose role involves taking, assessing or acting on reports of hazards in tenants' homes. This includes:

• Contact centre and customer service staff who take repair reports
• Housing officers and tenancy management staff
• Repairs and maintenance operatives
• Surveyors and property inspectors
• Supported and temporary accommodation staff in tenancy-based schemes
• Team leaders and managers responsible for compliance with Awaab's Law

If you work in housing occupied under licences, in the private rented sector, or outside England, the legal duties in this course do not apply to you, although the guidance on recognising and preventing hazards is still useful.

What does this training cover?

• The case of Awaab Ishak and how it led to Awaab's Law
• Which homes and hazards the law covers, and what falls outside it
• When the housing provider becomes aware of a hazard, including staff observations start the clock
• Taking a report and assessing the circumstances of the people living in the home
• The difference between an emergency hazard and a significant hazard
• Working-day timescales for investigation, written summaries, making safe and preventative work
• Offering suitable alternative accommodation
• Getting access, reasonable endeavours and record keeping
• How mould grows, its health effects and who is most at risk
• Preventing mould and removing small patches safely

Awaab's Law for Social Housing Course Certificate

After completing all the course materials and passing the final assessment, learners will be able to download a digital certificate, which can be printed and kept for your records.

At the end of this Awaab's Law training course, you will need to complete a test that consists of 12 multiple choice questions. Learners are required to achieve a 80% pass mark, and - if necessary - may attempt the test six times at no extra cost. If learners do not achieve the pass mark, further attempts may be given by contacting our support team.

Duration

This course takes around 45 minutes to an hour to complete. You can proceed as quickly or slowly as you like, and there is no limit on how long you can take to work through the material.

Entry requirements

There are no specific entry requirements for this Awaab's Law training course.