The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has responded to the launch of the Government's consultation on applying Awaab's Law to the private rented sector.
Awaab's Law has applied to social housing in England since 27 October 2025, setting fixed timeframes for landlords to investigate and fix hazards such as damp and mould. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 gives the Government the power to extend the same duties to private tenancies, and the Government's implementation roadmap places the extension in the third phase of the Act's rollout, with timescales subject to consultation.
The NRLA says there are 4.7 million households in the private rented sector in England.
"The death of Awaab Ishak due to dangerous conditions in a social rented home was an unimaginable tragedy that should never have happened," said Ben Beadle, chief executive of the NRLA. "The law in his name must ensure that no landlord, regardless of sector or size, can expect to get away with letting substandard, dangerous housing.
"Today's consultation rightly recognises that there are important differences between the private and social rented sectors, and for the law to be effective, it must be designed and applied appropriately.
"However, changing the law means nothing unless it is properly enforced without exception or favour, and irrespective of tenure. For too long bad actors across the rental sectors have been able to ignore standards and regulations already in place because the chance of being held to account is too remote to cause concern. This must change.
"Alongside consulting on these measures, the Government needs to deliver on its aspirations and put their words into action. All good landlords are united in the desire to root out those rogue and criminal operators who put tenants at risk and undermine the reputation of the compliant majority. More regulation alone will not achieve that."
