Compliance

The legal framework for Awaab’s Law and social housing safety.

Legislation, case law, regulator expectations and official guidance, categorised and linked to source.

Last reviewed: 17 October 2026

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General information, not legal advice. Last checked on 17 October 2026.

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1Duties
2Working days

Duties and timescales

Each duty, its timescale, when the clock starts and the regulation it comes from.

1Duties

Duties under the Awaab’s Law Regulations with timescale, trigger and regulation
Duty	Regulation	Timescale	Applies to	When the clock starts	Exceptions and extensions	Complete when
Emergency action: investigate and complete relevant safety work	Regulation 5	As soon as reasonably practicable, and before the end of 24 hours (the emergency action period).	Emergency hazards, of any type except crowding and space.	Condition 1: the landlord becomes aware of an issue of concern and has reasonable grounds to believe there is an emergency hazard, and no relevant investigation has concluded. The 24 hours begin when Condition 1 begins to apply. Condition 2: a relevant investigation concludes there is an emergency hazard and identifies relevant safety work. The 24 hours begin when that investigation is completed.	The requirement to complete safety work ends if consent from another person is needed and all reasonable endeavours to obtain it are exhausted, or a later associated investigation concludes there is no hazard or no safety work. If the landlord complies with Part 6 (rehousing), regulation 5(4) is read without the words about the end of the emergency action period.	An emergency investigation by a competent investigator is completed, and where it finds an emergency hazard and relevant safety work, that work is completed.
Standard investigation	Regulation 6	Before the end of 10 working days beginning on the day after the landlord becomes aware of the issue of concern. If the tenant asks for a physical inspection before the investigation is completed, 10 working days beginning on the day after that request.	Potential significant hazards where Condition 1 in regulation 5 does not apply.	The landlord becomes aware of an issue of concern.	The extended investigation period applies where the tenant requests a physical inspection.	A competent investigator completes an investigation that determines whether the home is affected by a significant or emergency hazard, determines what work is required where possible, takes account of information from the tenant or a third party, and includes a physical inspection if the tenant asked for one.
Renewed investigation including physical inspection	Regulation 7	Before the end of 10 working days beginning on the day after the tenant makes the request.	Where an emergency or standard investigation was completed without a physical inspection and preventative work has not begun.	The tenant asks for a physical inspection of the relevant matter.	Does not apply where regulation 5(4)(a)(ii) or (b) or regulation 8 apply.	A renewed investigation, including a physical inspection, is completed by a competent investigator.
Further investigation	Regulation 8	As soon as reasonably practicable.	Where a standard, renewed or emergency investigation concludes there is a hazard but a further investigation is needed to determine what work is required or another relevant matter.	The earlier investigation concludes that a further investigation is necessary.	None stated. A physical inspection is required if the tenant asks and none was done in an earlier associated investigation.	The further investigation is completed by a competent investigator.
Written summary following investigation	Regulations 9 and 10	Before the end of 3 working days beginning on the day after the day the relevant investigation is completed.	After any relevant investigation, unless it identified required work and that work is completed within the 3 working days.	A relevant investigation is completed.	None stated. GOV.UK says the 3 working days is for the summary to be given by the landlord, not received by the tenant.	A document is given to the tenant setting out whether a significant or emergency hazard was identified and what it is, any further action required with a target timescale for beginning and completing it, or that no further action is required and why, and how the tenant can contact the landlord. It can be given in person, left at the home, posted first class or sent electronically to an address the tenant provided.
Make safe: significant hazards	Regulation 11	Within 5 working days beginning on the day after the relevant investigation is completed, or, where the landlord complies with Part 6, as soon as reasonably practicable after.	Where an investigation identifies relevant safety work for a significant hazard that an earlier associated investigation had not identified.	The relevant investigation is completed.	Ends if consent from another person is needed and all reasonable endeavours to obtain it are exhausted, or a later associated investigation concludes there is no hazard or no safety work.	The relevant safety work is completed.
Keep safe	Regulation 12	From completion of the safety work until further investigation or supplementary work is completed.	Significant and emergency hazards where relevant safety work has been completed.	Relevant safety work is completed and a further investigation or supplementary work is outstanding.	Ends if consent cannot be obtained after all reasonable endeavours, or a later associated investigation concludes there is no hazard or no supplementary work.	The home is kept in the condition it was in when the safety work was completed.
Supplementary preventative work	Regulation 13	Begin, or take steps to begin, within 5 working days beginning on the relevant day. If it is not reasonably practicable to begin in that time, it must begin as soon as reasonably practicable and before the end of 12 weeks beginning on the day after the relevant investigation was completed. Then complete within a reasonable period.	Significant and emergency hazards where an investigation identifies supplementary preventative work not previously identified.	The relevant day is the day after the relevant investigation is completed, or, where a further investigation was needed first, the day after the further investigation is completed. The 12 weeks run from the day after the investigation that determined the hazard was completed.	Ends if consent cannot be obtained after all reasonable endeavours, or a later associated investigation concludes there is no hazard or no supplementary work.	The work is completed within a reasonable period. The Regulations do not define reasonable period.
Keep the tenant updated	Regulation 14	Throughout, until the appropriate time.	Where a relevant investigation identifies required work.	Required work is identified.	The appropriate time is when the work is completed, consent cannot be obtained after all reasonable endeavours, or a later investigation concludes there is no hazard or no required work.	Reasonable steps taken to keep the tenant informed about timing and progress, the tenant told when the work is completed, and a document given where no further action is required.
Temporary rehousing	Regulations 15 and 16	From the end of the initial remediation period until the appropriate time. The initial remediation period is 24 hours for an emergency hazard and 5 working days beginning the day after the investigation for a significant hazard.	Where safety work, or a further investigation that is likely to find safety work, cannot be completed within the initial remediation period.	The landlord is, or is likely to be, unable to complete the safety work or further investigation in the initial remediation period.	Unless the tenant refuses an offer. Ends when the safety work is completed, consent cannot be obtained, a later investigation finds no hazard or no work, or the tenant gives written notice that they no longer want accommodation.	Suitable alternative accommodation is secured for the tenant’s household at no cost to the tenant.
Safety advice	Regulation 17	Before the end of the initial remediation period, or as soon as reasonably practicable after.	Unless the landlord has reasonable grounds to believe the home will be unoccupied for the whole of the assumed rehousing period.	Part 6 applies.	None stated.	A document is given with the information required by regulation 17(3) about reducing risk until the safety work is complete.
Right of entry (tenant’s implied covenant)	Regulation 20	At least 24 hours’ written notice, at reasonable times of day.	Entry to comply with a requirement of the Regulations.	The landlord or a person it authorises in writing needs to enter.	None stated.	Entry is permitted on that notice.
Record keeping	No express regulation	Not specified.	Landlords generally.	Not applicable.	Not applicable.	The Regulations do not impose a record keeping duty. GOV.UK recommends keeping clear records of engagement, investigations, communications and attempts to comply, which a landlord may need as evidence of reasonable endeavours.

2Working days

Regulation 2 defines a working day as any day other than a Saturday or Sunday, Christmas Day or Good Friday, or a bank holiday under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 in England and Wales. Most periods begin on the day after the triggering event. The 24 hour emergency period begins at the time the trigger occurs.

This tab does not calculate dates for a real case. Check each duty against the Regulations.