Awaab’s Law has fundamentally changed the landscape for social housing landlords, introducing strict statutory timeframes that leave little room for delay.
Emergency hazards must be investigated and remedied within 24 hours, whilst significant damp and mould hazards require investigation within 10 working days and remediation within 5 working days of investigation completion.
Rope access offers a practical, proven solution that enables landlords to meet these demanding timeframes without compromising on quality or safety.
The 24-Hour Emergency Challenge
Emergency hazards under Awaab’s Law include issues that pose an imminent and significant risk to tenants’ health or safety, including:
- gas leaks
- severe water leaks
- broken boilers in winter
- compromised external doors or windows
- prevalent damp or mould
These situations cannot wait for scaffolding contractors to be booked, permits to be obtained, or equipment to be delivered.
Rope access eliminates these barriers. At RAIL, our emergency response team mobilises within hours of your call. We arrive on-site equipped with the tools and materials needed to investigate and remedy common emergency hazards immediately.
Rope access provides immediate, safe access to any part of the building, ensuring landlords can act decisively to protect their tenants.
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The 10-Day Investigation Window
For significant damp and mould hazards, landlords have 10 working days to complete an investigation that determines whether a significant hazard exists and identifies the works required to make the property safe and prevent recurrence.
This timeframe sounds generous until you factor in the logistical challenges of accessing external building elements.
- Scaffolding can take weeks to arrange and erect, meaning the 10-day window expires before an external inspection even begins.
- Mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs) offer faster deployment but have significant limitations. They require stable ground, adequate clearance, suitable weather conditions, and may need road closure permits.
These constraints can easily consume the entire 10-day investigation period.
Rope access bypasses these challenges entirely. We can deploy within 24-48 hours of your instruction, conduct comprehensive external inspections of roofs, facades, gutters, chimneys, and other elements, and provide detailed reports within the 10-day timeframe.
The 5-Day Remediation Requirement
Once an investigation confirms a significant damp or mould hazard, landlords have just 5 working days to complete relevant safety works to make the property safe. It doesn’t necessarily mean permanently resolving all underlying issues, but it does require taking immediate action to eliminate or substantially reduce the hazard.
Rope access enables rapid remediation. For example, if damaged roof tiles are allowing water penetration, we can replace them almost immediately.
This ability to quickly investigate the issue is critical for meeting Awaab’s Law timeframes.
Cost-Effective Speed
Meeting tight timeframes doesn’t have to mean higher costs. Rope access is typically 40-60% cheaper than scaffolding, with no hire fees, permit costs, or traffic management charges.
By choosing rope access, landlords can meet Awaab’s Law deadlines without breaking the bank, allocating resources more effectively across their housing stock.
Reduced Risk of Breaches and Legal Action
Every day that passes without addressing a hazard increases the risk of tenant complaints, Ombudsman intervention, or legal action.
Rope access minimises this risk by enabling swift, decisive action. Landlords can respond to hazard reports immediately, demonstrate their commitment to tenant safety, and maintain positive relationships with residents.
Conclusion: Rope Access Is the Compliance Solution
Awaab’s Law timeframes are challenging, but they’re not impossible to meet. With the right access solution, landlords can investigate hazards quickly, remediate effectively, and protect their tenants’ health without delay.
Rope access provides the speed, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness needed to turn compliance from a burden into a manageable, routine process.
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