Awaab's Law was brought into place at the back end of 2023, after a young child named Awaab Ishak lost his life due to the negligence of social housing providers. This article will aim to explore what Awaab's Law means, both for tenants and landlords, and how this tragedy has brought about radical change in the way issues are dealt with by the Housing Association.

On the 21st December 2020, two year old Awaab Ishak tragically lost his life due to environmental mould exposure, with his family's house deemed unfit for human inhabitation by an inspection in the days following his passing. In the years leading up to Awaab's death, his family had made several complaints about the severity of the mould in their home, which were ignored and never acted upon. The implementation of Awaab's Law aims to ensure that landlords and housing associations act on remedying these hazards before a tragedy occurs, with time limits set to force action on these issues in a timely manner.

This law will also make sure that tenants are no longer blamed for the appearance of damp and mould in their property, with this previously being viewed as a an effect of 'lifestyle choices'. This means that landlords must take responsibility for issues that are present in their accommodation, and must carry out work to rectify these issues within a fixed period. Due to these changes, a greater emphasis is being placed on accurate testing and preventative measures, with it now a requirement for all correspondence between landlords and tenants to be recorded and stored for future reference. So, what is the best way for landlords to ensure that their tenants are safe?

Using Instrumention To Identify At-Risk Areas

With landlords now needing to ensure that preventative action is taken swiftly, there are a variety of instruments allowing for the identification of areas most at risk of mould development, ensuring that key parts of Awaab's Law are met. If there is too much moisture present in the air, condensation is more likely to form on surfaces, which often presents the ideal conditions for the growth of mould.

For example, the Testo Smart Probes Mould Kit is able to measure temperature and relative humidity with ease and accuracy, which are all factors which can contribute to the growth of mould. Included in this kit is the Testo 605i Thermohygrometer and a Testo 805i Infrared Thermometer, which both work in conjunction with the Testo Smart App to measure the surface moisture potential of walls and other surfaces, with potential risk areas displayed in red.

Often, the best way to allow for an effective ventilation strategy is to ensure that air is able to move freely, which helps avoid condensation build-up. The Testo 417 Vane Anemometer is able to determine air flow velocity and volume flow of air on ventilation systems, meaning that issues can be found. This product is also compatible with the Smart App, meaning that landlords are able to record the action they have taken and ensure they are meeting the requirements set by Awaab's Law. However, landlords can also gain a more visual cue on areas that are at risk of developing mould thanks to the Testo 871s and Testo 872s Thermal Imaging Cameras. This allows for landlords to make even further inroads into moisture identification, by integration with the 605i Thermohygrometer. Through a specific colour palette within the cameras, areas can be targeted and an action plan can be made to ensure that legislation is followed.

Closing Thoughts

Meeting the new requirements of Awaab's Law is hugely important for both landlords and tenants alike, but with the range of instrumention available, this can be made much easier through preventative measures. Ensuring that a tenant is listened to and that action is taken in a swift manner is now imperative, and these instruments allow for this to happen.

To browse more from our range of Testo products, including everything from thermal imaging cameras to thermohygrometers, visit our Testo page.