Subject: Awaab’s Law
Date of meeting: 18 December 2025
Proposer: Councillor Lademacher
Seconder: Councillor McLeay
Ward(s) affected: All
Notice of Motion
Green Group
This council notes:
1) The heartbreaking story of toddler Awaab Ishak’s death as a result of damp and mould in his home, which shone a spotlight into poor living conditions across households in Britain.
2) Awaab’s Law – which took effect on 27th October 2025 to prevent similar deaths – places strict timelines on some landlords to address emergency and significant hazards in their properties.
3) While Awaab’s Law applies to all social landlords, it does not apply to long leasehold, owner-occupied, low-cost home ownership, temporary or occupied under a license, supported accommodation, or shared ownership properties.
4) That all tenants across Brighton & Hove struggling with damp and mould-infested properties, including those currently excluded from Awaab’s law, deserve to live in healthy and well-maintained homes, free from conditions that could impact health and wellbeing.
Therefore, Councilresolves to:
1) Request that a report comes to a future Cabinet meeting, exploring how we as a council can expand the intention of Awaab’s Law to cover as many tenants as possible, including but not limited to:
a. reviewing future external accommodation contracts, setting out clear targets and inspection schedules, and taking more proactive action on current contracts.
b. working in close partnership with council tenants on how to improve and prioritise housing maintenance of council-owned properties.
c. investigating how elements of Awaab’s Law could improve the landlord licensing scheme, and whether the wider roll-out of the scheme could be sped up.
Supporting Information:
Shelter, Awaab’s law: