Armstrong Says NI Needs A Version Of Awaab’s Law

Yet again NI housing tenants miss out on key protections says Armstrong

Alliance Housing spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has said tenants in Northern Ireland are missing out on key protections compared to their counterparts in England who are protected by Awaab’s Law, urging the Communities Minister to take action to address this gap in basic housing rights. 

From 30 November 2026, Awaab’s Law will be expanded in England to cover a wider range of serious hazards, including excess cold, excess heat, fire risks, electrical hazards, structural collapse, dangerous stairs, and domestic hygiene concerns.

Social landlords will be legally required to investigate and remedy hazards within strict deadlines. 

The Strangford MLA said: “The extension of Awaab’s Law has exposed a growing gap in tenant protections between England and Northern Ireland, with local tenants continuing to lack the same legal rights to have dangerous housing conditions addressed.

“A tenant in England who reports a serious hazard now has clear legal protections and statutory deadlines requiring their landlord to act. A tenant in Northern Ireland does not. That is an unacceptable disparity in basic housing rights.

“This vital law was introduced following the tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who sadly died in 2020 after prolonged exposure to mould in his family’s social housing property.

“No family should ever be put through that and be left living with dangerous conditions while waiting months or years for action.

“Safe housing should not depend on where you live. Whether a family lives in Belfast, Bangor, Birmingham or Bristol, they deserve the same protection from serious hazards.

“Yet again, tenants in Northern Ireland continue to wait for equivalent legislative protections.

“The Communities Minister and his Department must urgently examine the introduction of Northern Ireland’s own version of Awaab’s Law, with clear legal duties, clear timescales and meaningful accountability for landlords who fail to act.”