Awaab’s Law: What It Means for Legionella Testing in the Social-Rented Sector

Temperature Instrumentation

Sarah Cuthbert
19 Feb 2025

The UK government is introducing new legislation to ensure that tenants in social housing receive timely repairs to prevent hazards that could endanger health. Known as Awaab’s Law, this reform sets legally enforceable deadlines for landlords to resolve urgent issues in rented homes. While the Law primarily focuses on damp and mould prevention, it has broader implications for water hygiene and Legionella testing, especially in properties with communal water systems.

At Frontline Safety, we provide industry-leading Legionella testing kits and monitoring solutions, ensuring that landlords and housing providers meet their new legal obligations.

Understanding Awaab’s Law

Awaab’s Law was introduced following the tragic death of Awaab Ishak, a two-year-old child who died due to prolonged exposure to mould in social housing. The Law aims to prevent similar cases by holding landlords accountable for maintaining safe and habitable living conditions.

The Law introduces mandatory response times for repairs in social housing:

Emergency repairs (posing an immediate risk to health and safety) must be resolved in 24 hours.
Non-urgent but hazardous repairs must be fixed within seven days.
Landlords must proactively address risks before they escalate into serious hazards.

This means greater scrutiny of water hygiene issues, including the risk of Legionella bacteria—a serious health hazard that can thrive in poorly maintained water systems.

How Awaab’s Law Affects Legionella Risk Management

Legionella bacteria can grow in stagnant or poorly maintained water systems, posing a significant risk of Legionnaires’ disease, a severe form of pneumonia. Social housing properties, particularly those with communal water tanks, older pipework, or low-occupancy flats, are at higher risk of Legionella contamination.

With the introduction of Awaab’s Law, social landlords will need to ensure:

Regular Legionella testing and risk assessments to prevent outbreaks.
Faster response times when tenants report issues like discoloured water, lack of hot water, or faulty water storage systems.
Proactive measures, such as flushing systems, maintaining correct water temperatures, and using Legionella test kits, to comply with new response deadlines.

Failing to address water hygiene risks promptly could result in legal action, fines, and severe health consequences for tenants.

Legionella Testing Solutions for Housing Providers

To comply with Awaab’s Law and meet Legionella risk assessment requirements, social landlords can use Legionella testing kits and monitoring devices to ensure safe water quality. Frontline Safety offers the ETI Legionella Testing Kit

Provides a fast and straightforward method to detect Legionella bacteria.
Ideal for testing hot and cold water systems in residential buildings.
Results within 25 minutes, allowing for quicker remedial action.

Compliance and Best Practices for Social Housing Providers

With Awaab’s Law now placing legal obligations on landlords, it’s essential to follow best practices to ensure compliance

Conduct regular Legionella risk assessments—at least annually or during system changes.
Maintain correct water temperatures—hot water should be stored at 60°C and distributed at 50°C, while cold water should remain below 20°C.
Flush unused outlets regularly to prevent stagnant water.
Use Legionella test kits for ongoing monitoring and early detection.
Train maintenance staff on Legionella prevention and response protocols.

Awaab’s Law is a significant step forward in ensuring tenant safety in the social rented sector. While primarily aimed at damp and mould issues, it also reinforces the need for proactive Legionella risk management. Social landlords must act swiftly to test, monitor, and prevent Legionella outbreaks, ensuring water systems remain safe and compliant.

At Frontline Safety, we supply high-quality Legionella testing solutions to help landlords meet their new legal obligations. Please browse our range of Legionella test kits today to stay compliant with Awaab’s Law and protect tenant health. Explore our Legionella testing solutions here: Frontline Safety Legionella Testing Kits.