Truth Check/9 October 2026

“Extending Awaab's Law to private tenancies and to licensed accommodation could more than double the homes covered by repair deadlines, from 4 million to around 9 million; the consultation runs to 18 December 2026”

The claim as it travelled: MHCLG, 8-9 Oct 2026.

The department's own release states the 4 million and 9 million figures as its estimate, conditional on the licences part; the paper fixes neither the timescales nor the start year.

Checked Against

gov.uk ↗Primary

Read the Check

Awaab's Law goes to England's 11 million private renters: the government asks whether the 24-hour emergency and 10-working-day investigation clocks carry across, and whether it starts in 2027, 2028 or 2029

MHCLG's consultation opened on 9 October and closes on 18 December; its own release says the change could take the homes under repair deadlines from 4 million to around 9 million. The timescales and the start year are questions on the paper, not decisions.

Every claim we have checked, in the Ledger.