Everyone deserves a safe home. From 30 November 2026, the next stage of Awaab’s Law comes into force in England. It sets clear deadlines for social landlords, including CDS, to investigate and deal with more problems that could seriously affect tenants’ health or safety.

At CDS, we have been working to get ready for these changes, so we can identify the risks and respond when you need us.

What is changing?

Awaab’s Law already covers serious damp and mould and all emergency hazards.

Phase 2 extends the deadlines to more problems where they pose a serious risk:

• Homes that are too cold or too hot.
• Risks of falling, such as unsafe stairs, loose handrails or dangerous flooring.
• Parts of a building collapsing or falling, such as unstable ceilings or loose building materials.
• Fire and explosion risks.
• Electrical dangers, such as exposed wiring or unsafe electrical fittings.
• Problems affecting hygiene, such as pest infestations, unsafe drainage or faults that prevent you from washing, using the toilet or preparing food safely.

What can you expect from us?

When you report a problem, we will listen, ask questions and assess how urgently we need to act. We will consider how it affects you and anyone else living in your home, including any health conditions or disabilities.

For problems covered by the law:

• Emergency dangers: we must investigate and make the situation safe within 24 hours of becoming aware of it.
• Other potentially serious dangers: we must investigate within 10 working days.
• After the investigation: we must give you a written summary within 3 working days.
• If a serious danger is confirmed: we must make it safe within 5 working days of finishing the investigation.

These are maximum deadlines. We will act sooner where needed. Making
something safe may involve a temporary repair, followed by further work to stop the problem returning. If we cannot make your home safe within the required time, we must arrange suitable temporary accommodation at our expense.

Our staff is also receiving training to help them recognise these risks and respond quickly when you report a concern.

We will keep you updated, explain what happens next and let you know about any further work needed.

We will share our updated policy towards the end of November, explaining how we will manage these reports.

You do not need to wait for the new rules or know which category a problem falls into before contacting us.

If you are concerned about any health and safety hazards in your home or communal areas, please let us know by calling 020 4551 0080.