Safety & Security Feature
How digital tools can help social landlords meet Awaab’s Law
Ben Wallbank at Trimble explains why the compliance challenge is as much about data as it is about maintenance, and how digital technology can help housing providers stay ahead.
Safety & Security 47
A
waab’s Law came into force at the end of October 2025, born out of the tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in 2020 due to respiratory issues caused by prolonged exposure to mould in his home. Applying
directly to social housing landlords, including local authorities and housing associations, its impact cascades across the supply chain. Contractors, surveyors and maintenance providers now need to work within much tighter timeframes, all supported by accurate reporting and transparent communication.
NEW LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY Strict response times now apply. Under phase one, which focuses on damp and mould, landlords must investigate complaints within 10 working days and, for serious cases, begin remedial works or take temporary measures to make the home safe within fi ve working days. Category one emergencies demand even faster action, whereby the investigation and work must both take place within 24 hours, or tenants need to be rehoused if the hazard cannot be controlled. Beyond speed, landlords must be able to prove compliance, not just that the
work was done but that it was done correctly, on time and that every step was documented, dated and verifi ed.
REALITY OF MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT For local authority housing teams already managing ageing stock, limited budgets and multiple regulations, Awaab’s Law adds further responsibility but also an opportunity to modernise. Many still rely on paper based inspections, spreadsheets and fragmented contractor systems, making it diffi cult to build a single view of compliance. T e new framework calls for a shiſt from reactive to evidence-led maintenance, requiring data consistency and connected systems to create a
clear audit trail across everyone involved in managing and maintaining homes. In many ways, Awaab’s Law extends the ‘golden thread’ of data principle championed under the Building Safety Act, ensuring that every inspection, decision and action is traceable.
TURNING INFORMATION INTO ASSURANCE Connected digital systems can transform how landlords handle both reactive and preventative maintenance. Many contractors across the UK already use cloud-based fi eld tools, which allow teams to capture photographs, notes and timestamps directly onsite, even offl ine, syncing automatically once connected. T is creates a transparent, time stamped audit trail that can be reviewed and shared instantly. In practice, when a tenant reports damp or mould, every stage – from
fi rst inspection through to sign-off – can be tracked in one place, complete with images and updates. T is approach also supports better communication between tenants and landlords, allowing faster updates and helping to rebuild trust through visible accountability.
ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS When reviewing digital systems, landlords should look beyond basic functionality and ask how eff ectively each solution supports compliance. Start with data security, does the provider hold recognised certifi cations and
follow robust data protection protocols? T en consider workfl ow management – can it notify the right people when a serious hazard is raised, trigger relocation protocols where necessary and fl ag approaching or missed deadlines? Onsite usability is equally important. A good system should allow fi eld teams to log details directly into digital forms, capturing and tagging issue types, such
Housing Management & Maintenance Spring 2026
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