New Statesman’s Post

Technology and data is going to be essential to Awaab's law and housing providers to work within it.

What will Awaab’s Law mean for landlords and residents? An Inside Housing roundtable, in association with Switchee, discusses how incoming legislation will affect how #landlords approach #repairsandmaintenance in their homes: https://lnkd.in/eR_T4yXx #UKhousing #sponsored #AwaabsLaw #compliance

Post (and phone call) for the week. How can we be absolutely NOT READY for this law? Here are the 11-practical actions I'd propose to ensure we find ourselves in court and harming residents. Yes, really. 1. Complete disregard initial resident complaints and reports of hazards such as damp and mould. 2. Maintain poor, or non-existent, records of resident reports, inspections, and repair actions. 3. Implement no formal process for investigating reported hazards within the 14-day requirement. 4. Consistently delay repair actions beyond the stipulated seven-day period after hazard identification. 5. Don't complete emergency repairs. 6. Don't publish the requirements and provide unclear or no communication to tenants about the status of their hazard reports and the repair process. 7. Understaff or underfund the repair and maintenance teams. 8. Disregard legal requirements and guidelines set forth by Awaab's Law and other housing regulations. 9. Provide no training or inadequate training to staff on hazard identification, investigation, and emergency response protocols. 10. Fail to rehouse tenants from unsafe properties when hazards cannot be promptly fixed. 11. Have no or little evidence or data, or managerial oversight to track any repair, actions or gaps. Earlier this week I took a cold call from an unsuspecting damp and mould legal firm, they asked: - Did I have any damp and mould in my property (yes). - What rooms it was in (child's bedroom). - Where they any other problems in my property (heating poor). - Was I the owner (I played along). - What the name of my landlord was (😉). When they didn't get an RP name they recognised, they hung up. By inverting my response to the law, by aiming for complete and utter failure, I get the basis for simple actions that should ensure resident safety and avoidance of costly legal action. #socialhousing #law #regulation #improvment #repairsandmaintenance

📚 Weekend Reading 📚 EVO provides a comprehensive guide to understanding and complying with Awaab’s Law, looking at the importance of using digital tools to efficiently deal with emergency repairs, hazards as well as damp and mould. #ukhousing #socialhousing

Agreed. I’m sure most surveyors feel the same. The questions I have are, 1. How much money will housing associations need to make this work successfully? 2. How many surveyors and contractors on the ground will be required to work around the clock when this goes live? 3. What defence will surveyors have when they spec up jobs and certain members of the business refuse to authorise works because specifications are deemed too expensive!?

Awaab’s Law: Social and Private landlords to face strict timetables for repairs. Will there be an increase in housing disrepair claims? Is Mediation the answer? https://lnkd.in/eiQXnC2C #housing #disrepair #awaab’s #law #mediation

Deputy CEO James Berry discusses our response to the Awaab's Law consultation. While we support measures to improve social housing quality, we've raised concerns about potential consequences of tight timeframes, emphasising the importance of qualified professionals addressing these issues. To read our response in full, click here 👉https://lnkd.in/e5Ekuzxf #AwaabsLaw #consultation #dampandmould #socialhousing #housingproviders

Awaab's Law: Protecting Tenants, Preventing Tragedies. Awaab's Law is a crucial new piece of legislation that follows a devastating event—a tragedy that no family should ever have to experience. Named after Awaab Ishak, a young boy whose life was tragically cut short due to prolonged exposure to mould in his family's social housing, this law seeks to prevent such heartbreak from ever happening again. Under Awaab's Law, social housing landlords are now legally required to begin investigating any known or reported hazards, such as damp or mold, within 14 calendar days. This change is about much more than regulation; it's about safeguarding lives and ensuring that tenants are living in safe, healthy environments. At Resisure, our mission is to ensure tragedies like Awaab’s never happen again. That’s why we were founded—to support social housing providers, investors, and property managers in staying compliant and vigilant when it comes to tenant safety. Learn more about how Awaab's Law affects your responsibilities and how you can help prevent future tragedies in our latest blog: "Awaab's Law: Protecting Tenants, Preventing Tragedies. Awaab's Law is a crucial new piece of legislation that follows a devastating event—a tragedy that no family should ever have to experience. Named after Awaab Ishak, a young boy whose life was tragically cut short due to prolonged exposure to mould in his family's social housing, this law seeks to prevent such heartbreak from ever happening again. Under Awaab's Law, social housing landlords are now legally required to begin investigating any known or reported hazards, such as damp or mold, within 14 calendar days. This change is about much more than regulation; it's about safeguarding lives and ensuring that tenants are living in safe, healthy environments. At Resisure, our mission is to ensure tragedies like Awaab’s never happen again. That’s why we were founded—to support social housing providers, investors, and property managers in staying compliant and vigilant when it comes to tenant safety. Learn more about how Awaab's Law affects your responsibilities and how you can help prevent future tragedies in our latest blog: https://lnkd.in/exnW-xjv Let’s work together to keep every home safe. #SocialHousingAct #Awaabslaw #TenantSafety #Damp #Mould #PropertyOmbudsan #PropertyRegulations #Resisure

🛠️ Seeking some advice- Can any senior repairs professionals help around a query on Awaab's Law? 🛠️ As we know, Awaab’s Law has placed new responsibilities on landlords to ensure tenants live in safe, healthy homes. Specifically, this law addresses issues related to housing conditions and repairs, but I’m keen to learn more about its implications when it comes to Surveyors in particular. Will organisations have to ensure their Surveyors have a formal qualification in a related discipline moving forward? If anyone has insights on this, or how social housing providers are adapting to this legislation in general, I would be grateful. #SocialHousing #AwaabsLaw #HousingRepairs #TenantRights #SeniorHousing #HousingLegislation #HousingAdvice

Governor DeSantis has signed a law limiting the authority of homeowners associations (HOAs) in Florida, reducing their ability to impose fines on residents. Highlights 🏡 45% of Floridians live in deed-restricted communities. 🚫 New law curbs HOA powers, preventing fines for minor issues. 🎄 HOAs must now issue written notices before fining for holiday decorations. 📜 Residents advocate for balanced rules to avoid overreach by HOAs. 🔍 Lawmaker Tiffany Esposito emphasizes the impact of HOAs on home investments. 🤝 The law aims to make communities more inviting for potential residents. 📝 A list of HOA rules is available for residents on NBC 2 News. Key Insights 🏘️ Community Living Dynamics: With nearly half of Floridians residing in deed-restricted communities, the balance between community standards and personal freedom is crucial. HOAs can maintain order, but excessive restrictions may deter residents from choosing these neighborhoods. ⚖️ Legal Framework for HOAs: The new law introduces a more structured approach, requiring HOAs to follow due process before penalizing residents, which promotes fairness and accountability. 🎉 Cultural Shift in HOA Governance: By limiting fines on holiday decorations, the law reflects a shift towards a more lenient and understanding approach to community aesthetics. 💼 Impact on Property Values: State Representative Tiffany Esposito highlights the significant role HOAs play in protecting the largest investment most Floridians will ever make— their homes, stressing the need for oversight. 🌳 Encouraging Community Engagement: The law may foster a friendlier atmosphere in deed-restricted communities, making them more appealing to potential buyers who previously felt constrained by HOA regulations. 📢 Transparency and Communication: The requirement for written notices and hearings before fines ensure that residents are informed and can voice concerns, enhancing community trust in HOA governance. 🔗 See video from NBC here: https://lnkd.in/e73_pKEN