cold weather

As Phase 2 of Awaab's Law is due to come into force in November 2026, social housing providers face increasing pressure to demonstrate a proactive approach to maintaining healthy homes, including managing the risk of excess cold and excess heat before hazards escalate. For many landlords, this makes practical, property-level temperature control an important part of wider preventative maintenance planning.

While phase one focused on damp and mould hazards that present a significant risk of harm to tenants, Phase 2 widens the scope to include excess cold and excess heat, reinforcing the need to identify and remedy housing hazards within prescribed timescales1.

The winter is a tough time for anybody who has difficulty heating their home, but there are practical steps that can be taken - aside from a complete overhaul of the heating system - which can minimise cold and maximise savings for tenants and landlords alike. Joe Bradbury of Housing Association Magazine investigates: