The introduction of Awaab’s Law has fundamentally changed the way social landlords approach housing safety. Since October 2025, providers have been required to respond to damp and mould hazards and emergency repairs within strict statutory timescales. However, the next stage of implementation is likely to represent an even greater operational challenge.
Expected to come into force in October 2026, Phase 2 will significantly broaden the range of hazards that fall within the scope of Awaab’s Law, bringing many more property conditions under legally enforceable response and remediation requirements. Government guidance has confirmed that the second phase will include excess cold, excess heat, falls, fire, electrical hazards, explosions, structural collapse and hygiene-related hazards. These categories are drawn from the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) and reflect some of the most common risks affecting social housing residents. (GOV.UK)
For housing providers, the challenge is no longer simply responding to damp and mould. It is developing a proactive, data-led understanding of property conditions across an entire portfolio before hazards emerge.
Why summer 2026 should be treated as a live test bed
Much of the sector’s attention has understandably focused on damp, mould and cold homes. However, one of the most significant additions in Phase 2 is excess heat.
Historically, overheating has received less attention than fuel poverty or thermal inefficiency. Yet climate projections suggest that overheating risks in homes will continue to increase, particularly in flats and properties occupied by vulnerable residents.
This summer presents a unique opportunity for housing providers to identify overheating risks before Phase 2 takes effect. Rather than waiting for October and reacting to tenant complaints, providers can use the warmer months as a practical testing period to understand which homes are most susceptible to excessive indoor temperatures.
By monitoring environmental conditions across housing stocks during the summer, landlords can begin building a baseline understanding of:
- Which property archetypes are most prone to overheating
- How internal temperatures vary across different building types
- Whether vulnerable residents may be exposed to prolonged periods of excessive heat
- Where future interventions may be required
From reactive repairs to continuous insight
The strict requirements in Awaab’s Law have prompted housing providers to reduce the pressure of high caseloads through proactive maintenance during quieter periods. We have already seen this as providers respond to the damp and mould requirements in Phase 1 and expect to see a similar pattern as Phase 2 comes into force.
In fact, the government’s guidance for social landlords on Awaab’s Law (GOV.UK) supports the use of environmental monitoring systems when addressing damp and mould, saying that the use of Environmental Sensors to identify potential risks, combined with timely investigation and intervention to address hazards before they escalate, “not only supports compliance with Awaab’s Law but also demonstrates a strong commitment to maintaining safe, healthy homes.”
We believe the same is true for overheating risk. 
Aico’s HomeLINK platform enables housing providers to move beyond periodic inspections and gain continuous insight into environmental conditions within properties. Through connected sensors, landlords can monitor factors including temperature, humidity and indoor air quality, helping identify trends that may indicate emerging hazards.
For excess heat specifically, Aico’s HomeLINK system can provide visibility of elevated indoor temperatures and prolonged overheating events, allowing providers to identify at-risk properties before residents experience adverse health impacts.
Importantly, this approach supports a preventative rather than reactive model. Instead of waiting for complaints, organisations can use data to prioritise interventions, allocate resources more effectively and demonstrate proactive management of housing risks.
Supporting the full range of Phase 2 hazards
While excess heat may be an emerging concern, it is only one element of the wider Phase 2 framework, which is also expected to cover a variety of other hazards, including fire and excess cold. (GOV.UK)
Many of these hazards can be better understood when housing providers have access to reliable property and environmental data.
For example, temperature monitoring can help identify both excess cold and excess heat risks. Connected smoke and Carbon Monoxide alarms can strengthen understanding of fire-related safety. Meanwhile, a more complete picture of occupancy and environmental conditions can help inform wider asset management and resident safety strategies.
The objective is not simply compliance. It is creating safer, healthier homes through earlier intervention and informed decision-making.
Preparing for October
The implementation of Awaab’s Law is steadily moving the sector towards a more preventative model of housing management. As Phase 2 approaches, providers that invest now in understanding conditions across their housing stock will be better positioned to meet new legal obligations and improve outcomes for residents.
With summer temperatures already providing real-world evidence of overheating risks, there is a clear opportunity to act before the legislation comes into force.
By using this summer as a testing ground for excess heat monitoring and wider environmental assessment, housing providers can strengthen compliance readiness, improve operational resilience and, most importantly, ensure residents are protected from hazards before they become emergencies.
For many organisations, that journey starts by getting visibility of where the risks are. And in an era of expanding regulatory expectations, better data may prove to be one of the most valuable compliance tools available.
