Brent Council issues details on how it will comply with Awaab's Law to ensure safe and hazard free council housing

 Brent Renters Union launch #NotAnotherWinter Campaign 2023

 

I wrote recently about Brent's Housing Revenue Account and the strain it is under financially and regarding capacity to implement repairs and Awaab's law.

Today the Council issued an update regarding Awaab's Law:

Awaab's Law  A new law came into effect on Monday 27 October to ensure social housing is safe, healthy and free from serious hazards. The law is named after Awaab Ishak, aged two, who tragically died in 2020 after prolonged exposure to damp and mould in his home. Under this law, social landlords like us must act quickly whenever residents report issues such as damp and mould. When you report emergency hazards or damp or mould, here’s what will happen: Emergency hazards (for example, dangerous electrical faults, damaged external doors or windows, or major leaks) will be investigated and made safe within 24 hours Significant damp or mould will be investigated within 10 working days and made safe within five working days If further work is needed to prevent the hazard returning, we’ll start or plan the repairs within five working days. All work will begin within 12 weeks at the latest You’ll receive a report and action plan within three days of our visit We’ll keep you informed throughout the process If there’s significant damp and mould, we’ll support you through the next steps If you notice any of the following, please report it as soon as possible: Damp, mould or condensation that keeps coming back Leaks or plumbing issues Cracks in walls or ceilings Broken windows or ventilation Any condition that affects your health or safety To report an emergency, urgent, routine or standard repair call: 020 8937 2400. You can also report non-urgent repairs online via My Account.

Preventing Damp and Mould While Awaab’s Law ensures your home is safe and free from hazards, there are also simple steps you can take to help keep damp and mould at bay this winter: Let air flow Open windows regularly, especially after cooking or bathing Keep trickle vents or air bricks clear and open Avoid blocking air vents or covering radiators with furniture Control condensation Use extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms if fitted Wipe away moisture on windows and sills in the morning Cover pans when cooking Dry clothes outdoors when possible, or use a vented tumble dryer Keep your home warm Try to maintain a steady temperature - cold homes are more prone to condensation Use your heating system efficiently; small amounts of heat throughout the day can help Report problems early Tell us about leaks, broken extractor fans, or recurring mould straight away Don’t try to paint over mould - this only hides the problem temporarily If you have any questions about damp and mould please get in touch with our dedicated team by emailing: dampandmould@brent.gov.uk.

Meanwhile the law applies only to social housing but there is a huge problem in the private rented sector. The Brent Renters Union launched their 2023 campaign with this statement calling on Brent Council to take action against private landlords:

 

More than 10,000 private rented homes in Brent have a serious health hazard. Damp and mould are making us sick, leading to asthma, respiratory issues, skin conditions, and  mould poisoning. 

Our children’s health is in crisis because landlords are being allowed to get away with not keeping our homes safe. Damp and mould mean people can’t use some rooms, and are overcrowded in the others. This meant that Church End had the highest Covid death rate in the country. 

Brent council has a legal duty to make sure our homes are safe but their current plan isn’t good enough. In the areas of Brent where housing is most dangerous, they’re only promising to deal with 10% of the most serious problems this year. What about the other 90% of renters left with unsafe homes?

It doesn’t have to be like this. Members of the London Renters Union in Brent have come together to create an action plan for how the council can hold landlords accountable and keep us safe. Add your name to our campaign. Together we can win safer homes for everyone. 

If you are part of an organisation, please ask them to support the campaign by sharing this petition, and 

For background info, see our factsheet here

 

 

Almost half of Brent Labour councillors missing from tonight's Labour Group Meeting

In what might be seen as an indication of a collapse in morale, the Brent Labour Group meeting this evening was barely quorate.

The defection of Rajan-Seelan to the Tories, rumours of other defections, continuing anger about  the candidate selection process and deselections, plus poor polling on the doorstep, have all contributed to a high level of dissatisfaction amongst Labour councillors.

Presumably there were some vital issues to discuss ahead of next Full Council on Monday November 10th given the financial situation of the Council and the potential cost to the Housing Revenue Account of the repairs that have to be done in response to the Social Housing  Regulator's adjudication. In addition there is now the cost of complying with Awaab's law that gives tight guidelines on dealing with mould and other health issues in social and council housing. 

Brent Green Party sets out councillor defection process

 Brent Green Party released the following statement on their website on Monday:

Following the deselection of 8 Brent Labour councillors last month and ex-Labour Cllr Rajan-Seelan crossing the floor to join the Conservative Party today [actually he became an Independent], we are aware that there is some speculation about current Labour Party councillors joining the Green Party - and potentially becoming the first Green Party councillors in Brent. 

We would be delighted to welcome anyone who shares our values of social justice, environmental responsibility, and community wellbeing to join a membership that has more than doubled since mid-October and continues to grow.

In this context, we think it’s important to inform everyone that joining the Green Party as an elected representative is a formal process of due diligence that may or may not result in a defection to the Green Party. 

The interested party needs to express an interest in joining the Green Party - they won’t be invited to defect to the Green Party. They also need to go through an interview process with the central Green Party office. 

Following this interview and a general scrutiny process, the central office will give their opinion about a possible defection and the local party will have a say in the matter as well. 

We have started our selection process for May 2026  and we’ll continue to do so over the coming weeks. 
 

Does a small anticipated crowd for Springboks v Japan on Saturday justify full road closures?

With a full road closure in Wembley Park scheduled for 12 noon to 7.40pm for the Springboks v Japan match at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, despite a smaller than usual anticipated crowd, a Wembley resident has contacted Wembley Matters to ask if this disruption is necessary:

It would seem we having full road closure when they anticipate only 15-20,000, what nonsense is this.  With only 12,500 for a full Arena maybe they will start closing the roads for Arena events?  20,000 is well under the 50,000 and should not be considered a major event to close all the roads.

As a cosequence of the road closures bus routes will be disrupted or curtailed. 

 

 

 

Ex-Labour councillor Rajan-Seelan appears on the Brent Council website as an Independent this morning

 

There was no official announcement from Cllr Rajan-Seelan or Brent Conservatives yesterday hat the Wembley Central councillor was defecting to the Conservative Group. This could be because, quite rightly, the Tories are carrying out due diligence on his request to join them.

Currently he joins Cllr Kathleen Fraser as an Independent.

Michael Maurice's Merry-go-round as Bob Blackman comes to his rescue

 

Cllr Maurice

Cllr Rajan-Seelan's defection to the Tories today makes things rather difficult for Brent Tories as there are only 5 seats in which they stand even a slight chance in the 2026 Brent Council election.

It appeared that there might be a spare when rumours emerged that Cllr Michael Maurice hadn't made it through the first stage of the Conservative's selection process at Brent West constituency and had lost an appeal against the decision. 

However, someone then had the bright idea of applying through the Brent East constituency and Maurice received backing from Harrow East MP, Bob Blackman, Chair of the Monday Club, and is back in the selection process - helped by higher echelons of the party,

As commented on this blog recently, other Tory councillors have looked a trifle uncomfortable during some of Cllr Maurice's recent speeches and interventions  particularly on the Nablus partnership issue and the racism debate. 

Tensions may now appear between the Brent East and West constituency parties over 'An embarrassment saved by his mates.' 

Big job ahead for Brent's new Director of Housing Services

 

As I write  Brent's Senior Staff Appointments Sub-Committee are meeting to interview applicants for the post of Corporate Director Residents and Housing Services. As can be seen above it is a demanding job, made all the more demanding by Awaab's Law that comes into force today and the preparation of the Action Plan that should give priorties and timeline for implementing the recommendations of the Social Housing Regulator.

The Council has already moved to improve its failing communication strategy with teants and leaseholders with a key meeting this Wednesday at the Civic Centre:

Tenant & Leaseholder Open Day - Wednesday October 9th Civic Centre 3-7pm

Meet your Area Tenancy Manager  Discuss what matters most to you  Ask questions and get advice on housing issues  Access support and useful services  Discover local organisations  Find out how you can get more involved in your local community  Pop in at any time that suits you - stay for a quick chat or for the whole afternoon. Book your free space or simply drop in on the day.

 

Join the Resident Complaints focus group

We’re committed to improving Brent’s housing complaints process and are looking for residents to share their experiences. Join a friendly group working to make the system fairer, quicker, and more effective. Your insights can help shape real improvements for everyone. What’s involved? Attend meetings at times that suit the group (six throughout the year) Share your views on how complaints are handled and suggest ways to improve the process Why get involved? Help build a complaints process that’s fair, transparent and easy to use Help make reporting and escalating complaints easier for all residents Work alongside other residents and officers to codesign and create improvements to how complaints are managed Learn more about your rights and how complaints are managed Make sure residents voices drive real change Gain skills in communication, problem solving and collaborative working We’re looking for 10-15 residents to join. Places are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. As a thank you for your time and contributions, participants will receive LoveToShop vouchers.   Want to get involved? Register your interest by 7 November 2025 by emailing: HousingFeedback@brent.gov.uk or calling: 020 8937 2459. 💡 Reminder: If you’d like to raise a Housing Management complaint, please visit our website.

It is worth noting that two former officers in the Department at Brent are now working in Southwark!

Awaab's Law

The Regulations mean landlords must:  

• Investigate any potential emergency hazards and, if the investigation confirms emergency hazards, undertake relevant safety work as soon as reasonably practicable. The investigation and the work must both take place within 24 hours of becoming aware of the hazard.
• Investigate any potential significant hazards within 10 working days of becoming aware of them;
• Produce a written summary of investigation findings and provide this to the tenant within 3 working days of the conclusion of the investigation.
• Undertake relevant safety work within 5 working days of the investigation concluding, if the investigation identifies a significant hazard.
• Begin, or take steps to begin, any supplementary preventative work to prevent a significant or emergency hazard recurring within 5 working days of the investigation concluding, if the investigation identifies a significant or emergency hazard. If steps cannot be taken to begin work in 5 working days this must be done as soon as possible, and work must be physically started within 12 weeks.
• Satisfactorily complete supplementary preventative works within a reasonable time period.
• Secure the provision of suitable alternative accommodation for the household, at the social landlord’s expense, if relevant safety work cannot be completed within specified timeframes.
• Keep the tenant updated throughout the process and provide information on how to keep safe.

Upon becoming aware of a potential hazard, social landlords should use all available information to initially determine if the hazard is a potential significant or emergency hazard and take steps to complete relevant safety work within stated timeframes.

The timelines set under Awaab’s Law are the maximum statutory timeframes in which landlords must act. Landlords can and should act more quickly if circumstances require, especially in situations where other legislation requires a faster response and/or according to their policies and procedures.

 

 

BREAKING: Cllr Rajan-Seelan crosses the floor and joins Brent Conservative Group

I understand that an announcement is due confirming that Cllr Rajan-Seelan has joined the Conservative Group on Brent Council.