Deja Sutherland, head of Enablement, Cloudhouse, looks at how to achieve compliance with Awaab’s Law without rebuilding IT applications.
Awaab’s Law, which came into force last year, was introduced following the tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who died after prolonged mould exposure in his home. It highlights the need for safer conditions for all. The law ensures housing associations must evidence they are tackling damp, mould and other hazards quickly and effectively.
One element that’s currently slowing down housing associations from maintaining accurate records is the fact that so many run core asset management systems on outdated, unsupported IT infrastructure. This affects their ability to respond rapidly to regulators and prove compliance. So, while operational teams focus on inspections and remedial works, those that manage the IT of these associations must consider the obstacles that these outdated systems put in place.
The assumption is often that meeting new legal obligations requires expensive and disruptive redevelopment of these applications. In reality, there’s a better option. By modernising existing systems so they operate securely on updated infrastructure, housing associations can achieve compliance and avoid operational downtime – all without rewriting software or retraining staff.
Awaab’s Law – an urgent imperative to strengthen operational resilience
Awaab’s Law represents a moral and operational wake up call for the housing sector. As the online guidance outlines: ‘While many landlords take timely and effective action to address hazards, Awaab’s Law serves as a legal backstop for the cases where social landlords are failing to make repairs quickly enough and leaving their tenants at risk.’
It’s not simply a compliance requirement, but a redefinition of duty of care. Part of this duty of care involves housing associations having the ability to accurately and efficiently record evidence of tackling damp and other hazards. Record accuracy, auditability and responsiveness are all central to meeting the new requirements.
Compliance isn’t just about ticking boxes; it’s about proving systemic readiness and transparency. But the urgency to become compliant with Awaab’s Law places pressure on both operational and digital infrastructures – systems must enable quick access to information, cross-department coordination and clear communication with regulators.
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