As Phase 2 of Awaab’s Law approaches, local authorities are preparing for another significant change in the way housing hazards and disrepair cases must be managed.
With the legislation expanding beyond damp and mould to cover a much wider range of hazards, housing providers will need robust processes to investigate, record and resolve cases within statutory timescales. For many organisations, this means reviewing whether their existing housing claims management system and local authority claims handling processes are fit for purpose.
What is Phase 2 of Awaab’s Law?
From 30 November 2026, Awaab’s Law will extend to additional housing hazards that present a risk to tenants’ health or safety. Alongside the existing requirements for damp, mould and emergency hazards, landlords will also be required to respond appropriately to hazards including:
- Excess cold
- Excess heat
- Falls on stairs and level surfaces
- Structural collapse
- Fire and explosion risks
- Electrical hazards
- Domestic hygiene hazards
The legislation introduces clear expectations regarding investigation, communication with residents, record-keeping, and completion of repairs within prescribed timescales. Housing providers must also be able to demonstrate that appropriate action has been taken and maintain comprehensive records throughout the lifecycle of each case.
The growing challenge for local authority claims handling
As the scope of Awaab’s Law increases, so too does the complexity of local authority claims handling.
Housing teams are expected to coordinate inspections, repairs, contractors, legal teams and resident communications while maintaining a complete audit trail for every claim. At the same time, organisations must respond to complaints, Ombudsman investigations and potential housing disrepair claims with accurate evidence and clear documentation.
Many authorities continue to rely on manual processes or disconnected systems, making it difficult to monitor statutory deadlines, report on performance or demonstrate compliance.
A dedicated housing claims management system can help streamline these processes by providing a single platform for managing cases from first notification through to resolution.
How JCAD’s LACHS housing claims management system supports compliance
JCAD’s LACHS (Local Authority Claims Handling System) has been developed specifically for local authority claims handling, giving housing providers a purpose-built solution for managing housing disrepair and liability claims.
LACHS helps organisations:
- Manage housing disrepair claims from initial notification through to settlement.
- Track statutory deadlines and important milestones.
- Maintain a complete audit trail of decisions, documents and resident communications.
- Improve collaboration between housing, legal, insurance and repairs teams.
- Produce management reports to support compliance, governance and performance monitoring.
- Reduce administration through streamlined workflows and automated processes.
- Provide greater visibility across every stage of the claims lifecycle.
Rather than relying on spreadsheets or multiple disconnected systems, LACHS provides a centralised housing claims management system that enables consistent, transparent and efficient case management.
Preparing for Phase 2 of Awaab’s Law
As regulatory expectations continue to evolve, investing in effective local authority claims handling processes is becoming increasingly important.
Whether you’re managing increasing volumes of housing disrepair claims, strengthening compliance or looking to improve operational efficiency, having the right housing claims management system can help your organisation meet its legal obligations while providing better outcomes for residents.
Discover how LACHS can help
JCAD has many years of experience providing specialist local authority claims handling software to councils across the UK.
If you’re reviewing your approach ahead of Phase 2 of Awaab’s Law, we’d be pleased to demonstrate how our housing claims management system can support your teams, improve compliance and provide complete visibility over your housing disrepair claims.
Contact JCAD today to arrange a demo of LACHS and discover how our housing claims management system can help your authority prepare for the next phase of Awaab’s Law.
