Awaab's Law City housing team admits it will miss rules deadline

BRISTOL City Council's housing team have admitted they are unlikely to comply with next month’s changes to the law.

- Alex SEABROOK Local democracy reporter

The death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in 2020 sparked calls for a change in the law, to force social housing landlords to act promptly on damp and mould and prevent similar tragedies happening in future.

Awaab’s Law comes into effect next month but housing chiefs at Bristol City Council have already admitted they might not comply with the rules. Only a third of council homes have been surveyed, IT systems tracking hazards need updating, and there is a huge backlog of repairs.

An update on how the council is preparing for the new law was given to councillors on the housing policy committee on Friday. Green Cllr Lisa Stone said: “We've known about Awaab’s Law and its intentions and yet we are completely on the back foot.”