The UK just made it illegal for landlords to ignore dangerous damp and mould
The new law in the changes everything — for tenants, for landlords, and most importantly for electricians. It just created urgent, paid work — and electricians are on the front line.
It’s called Awaab’s Law — and it was triggered by the tragic death of a two-year-old boy (Awaab Ishak) in 2020, caused by prolonged exposure to black mould in a social housing flat. His family had raised repeated complaints. No meaningful action was taken. Following national outcry, the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 was passed, embedding deadlines and enforceable steps.
• Landlords must investigate reported hazards within 14 calendar days.
• Once a hazard is confirmed, repairs must begin within 7 days and be finished within 21 days, unless there is an accepted reason for delay.
• These rules apply to issues such as structural leaks, damp, mould and associated conditions affecting health and safety.
What does this mean for you, the electrician working in trade, residential or social housing?
It means work — and a lot of it.
- For electricians, this legal shift means more than just repair work — it opens up a pipeline of compliance-driven installations, upgrades and maintenance contracts.
- The opportunity is clear: you can be the trusted partner who ensures landlords meet their obligations and keep tenants safe.
- Most mould and damp issues are ventilation issues. And ventilation is electrical. Kitchens and bathrooms need extractors.
- Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) is simply the best technology to solve this problem in almost all situations
- You can wait for requests to trickle in or you can read the law, build your offer and be first to the table. In this new field, regulatory compliance is your marketing plan
You can move beyond “reactive call-out” to “compliance partner”.
You can pitch:
• “We install extractor fan systems that meet Awaab’s Law deadlines.”
• “We deliver fixed-price electrical compliance packages for social housing portfolios.”
• “We offer quick audit and remedial services aligned with landlord obligations.”
There are millions of social housing dwellings across England alone. Many properties are un-inspected or overdue. Landlords are now on a time-sensitive legal clock. They don’t have the internal resources to handle the volume. That’s where your business steps in.
Think about packaging your offering: create a branded “Awaab’s Law Electrical Compliance Pack”. It might include:
- Ventilation upgrades / extractor installations
- Electrical inspection & testing (EICR) of affected circuits
- Optional sensor installations for humidity, CO₂ or air-quality monitoring
Landlords don’t want uncertainty.
They want assurance.
Where does your trusted Electrical Wholesaler fit into this?
- We stock and supply quality reliable, easy to install Ventilation Systems to ensure compliance, and make the property safe from mould.
- We can facilitate product training and CPD courses direct with our trusted supply partners The Volution Group PLC, incorporating VENTAXIA and National Ventilation
