4 Industry News


Managing Editor James Parker


Publisher Anthony Parker


Account Director Midge Myatt


Account Manager Nathan Hunt


Digital Marketing & PR Account Manager Suzanne Easter


Operations Director Shelley Collyer


Events Coordinator Amy Madigan


Studio Manager Mikey Pooley


Production Assistant Georgia Musson


Digital Production Coordinator Kim Musson


Feature Coordinator & Publisher’s Assistant Kim Neville


Finance Director Simon Reed


O An Employee Owned Company


Cointronic House, Station Road, Heathfi eld, East Sussex TN21 8DF


Advertising & Administration 01435 863500 info@netmagmedia.co.uk


Press Releases editorial@netmagmedia.co.uk


Registration & Circulation Enquiries info@netmagmedia.co.uk


n 27th October, Phase 1 of Awaab’s Law takes eff ect, requiring social landlords to address a wide of range of property hazards within new timeframes which will be


challenging for many, if not all registered providers.


T e big question, as I learned from attending the joint NFH and CIH-run Housing Community Summit in Liverpool, is that it’s not damp and mould, but 29 stated hazards in the Housing Health and Safety Rating System that are needed to be addressed to comply with the new legislation. It is a long time since the 2004 Housing Act, but it laid down the extensive list, which range from damp and mould growth, excess cold and heat, and asbestos, other breathable fi bres and chemicals, to fi re, structural collapse, and noise, not to mention a range of fall risks.


What we do know is that what are deemed emergency repairs must be investigated and ‘actioned’ within 24 hours, and ‘signifi cant’ hazards have to be investigated within 10 days. While Awaab’s Law is apparently going to apply to all of the hazards in the HHSRS (with the exception of overcrowding), the diff erence is that they can be more swiſt ly assessed, not requiring the full HHSRS approach, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy.


T e Government says that instead, a “person-centred approach” will involve a “more straightforward assessment which considers the tenant’s circumstances when assessing the risks presented by a hazard.” T is moves away from the approach of requiring a hazard to be at ‘category 1’ level before action is taken, potentially meaning a much wider set of actions will be needed. As the Government says, “a tenant with age or health related vulnerabilities may be at signifi cant risk from a home aff ected by damp and mould, even if it were scored as a category 2 under the HHSRS.


Without more sophisticated data which can tally a hazard with a person’s changing characteristics at a granular and fl exible level of detail, it’s hard to see how this will be “straightforward.” When it comes to enforcement, Awaab’s will be processed by a local council if its under their jurisdiction, and are able to complete the repairs more quickly. T is could be good news, but there’s a lot of learning to be done. Hopefully some will have come through the works by our second round table on the outcomes of the new law, which is scheduled for early February 2026.


The manufacturer of the paper used within our publication is a Chain-of-Custody certifi ed supplier operating within environmental systems certifi ed to both ISO 14001 and EMAS in order to ensure sustainable production.


Subscription costs just £24 for 6 issues, including post and packing. Phone 01435 863500 for details. Individual copies of the publication are available at £3.25 each including p&p.


All rights reserved


No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, including photocopying, recording or stored in any information retrieval system without the express prior written consent of the publisher. Although every eff ort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in Housing Management & Maintenance, the publisher can accept no responsibility for the claims or opinions made by contributors, manufacturers or advertisers. Editorial contributors to this journal may have made a payment towards the reproduction costs of material used to illustrate their products.


Printed in England


This magazine may be recycled


Alternatively, please visit housingmmonline.co.uk/subscribe


James Parker OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2025


Looking to update or cancel your HMM registration? Scan the QR code to visit our registration page. From here you can also register for our Digital Issues and Newsletters.


HOUSING On the cover...


Alideck explores how aluminium balcony systems are becoming an integral part of safer building design. See page 29.


UPDATE YOUR REGISTRATION


HMM_1011_2025 Covers.indd 1 17/10/2025 09:05 MANAGEMENT & MAINTENANCE


BALCONY SAFETY IN HIGH DENSITY – REIMAGINED


Alideck explores how aluminium balcony systems are becoming an integral part of safer building design


Editor’s Comment


Housing Management & Maintenance October/November 2025


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32