The PRS extension
Awaab's Law is coming to the private rented sector.
The Renters' Rights Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 27 October 2025 and provides the legal vehicle to extend Awaab's Law to private landlords in England. MHCLG's Implementation Roadmap confirms the extension; the exact commencement date is still subject to further consultation.
Why it matters now
Private rentals have the most damp of any tenure.
Private rented 10%
Social rented 7%
Owner-occupied 4%
The bars show the share of homes with damp (English Housing Survey 2024). Separately, 46% of private-rented households report some condensation, damp or mould - a wider measure.
What's confirmed
- The same kind of legal deadlines will apply to private landlords for serious hazards in the home (the social-housing rules call these "significant hazards").
- The PRS Database will record compliance and become visible to prospective tenants.
- The Decent Homes Standard will apply to PRS; government has indicated a long transition for full application.
- Exact start date: not yet set - the government is still consulting on it.
The National Residential Landlords Association advises private landlords to get ready now, rather than wait for the start date. If the government gives only a short time to comply, the landlords who prepared early will be the ones who cope.