Stay Compliant, Stay in Control, Stay Ahead
The Renters’ Rights Bill (formerly Renters’ Reform Bill) and Awaab’s Law are reshaping expectations for landlords, agents, and housing providers. Tenant welfare, property safety, and accountability are under the spotlight like never before, and the message is clear: regular inspections aren’t optional – they’re essential.
The Renters’ Rights Bill represents a transformative shift in the rental landscape, focusing on improving tenant rights and living conditions across England. A key part of the Bill is the introduction of periodic tenancies, effectively eliminating Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions. This change was brought about to enhance security for tenants while balancing the needs of landlords, giving the latter the ways and means to reclaim properties for legitimate reasons.
Additionally, it strengthens enforcement against rogue landlords by granting local authorities greater powers and resources, ensuring compliance with property standards and tenant protections. We covered the Renters Reform Bill last year in some depth, read the blog here.
Awaab’s Law, named after Awaab Ishak, a two-year-old who tragically lost his life due to exposure to mould in his family’s home, aims to prevent similar cases in public sector and private sector housing. This law compels landlords and housing providers to take immediate action on reports of damp and mould. Under the law, strict timeframes for resolving such issues will be imposed, ensuring tenants do not suffer prolonged exposure to hazardous living conditions that jeopardise health and safety.
Central to Awaab’s Law is the idea of accountability. It places a legal obligation on landlords and housing providers to respond quickly and effectively to complaints, with severe repercussions if they fail to act. This law is a reminder of the serious consequences of inaction, reinforcing just how important proactive property management and diligent record keeping are.
These changes come with hard facts:
- 23% of private rented homes and 10% of social housing fail to meet the Decent Homes Standard (English Housing Survey, 2023).
- 1 in 10 PRS properties contains a Category 1 hazard – serious risks like mould, damp, or structural concerns.
- Over 450,000 social homes suffer from damp and mould issues, impacting health and well-being (National Housing Federation).
- 45% of tenants have experienced damp, leaks, or mould in the last year alone (Shelter).
With Awaab’s Law requiring social housing providers to respond to issues within 14 days, and the Renters Right’s Bill demanding higher standards of safety and maintenance, proactive property management has never been more critical.
Making Inspections Work for You with Inventory Base
Inventory Base offers a tiered inspection approach designed to help you stay compliant, reduce risks, and streamline operations – without stretching resources. From tenant-led checks to fully outsourced services, Inventory Base provides the tools to catch issues early, meet regulatory deadlines, and even create new income opportunities for agents and inspection providers.
1. Tenant Self-Service Inspections
Give tenants an easy, app-guided way to check and report property conditions – fast, reliable, and scalable.
Why it works:
- Encourages tenants to flag early signs of damp, mould, or leaks, helping meet Awaab’s Law timeframes.
- Reduces team pressure while keeping oversight across large portfolios.
- Supports low-cost, frequent inspections to align with the Renters’ Rights Bill.
2. Live Inspections (Remote Video Inspections)
Bridge the gap between self-service and in-person visits with real-time video inspections, guided by professionals.
Where it shines:
- Ideal for follow-ups on reported issues – like damp patches, safety concerns, or cracks.
- Cuts travel costs and speeds up inspections while ensuring professional oversight.
- Keeps compliance on track, even in resource-limited settings.
3. In-Person Inspections
When a hands-on approach is needed, qualified inspectors deliver thorough, detailed assessments.
When to use it:
- Pre-tenancy, mid-term, or end-of-tenancy checks to ensure standards are met.
- Investigating high-risk concerns – structural issues, severe damp, or over-occupancy.
- Providing clear evidence for compliance under the Renters Reform Bill.
4. Workstreams Outsourced Inspections
Short on time or resources? Inventory Base Workstreams lets you outsource inspections to trusted professionals across the UK.
Why it’s a game-changer:
- Scale up instantly to meet inspection demands without adding pressure on your team.
- Tap into a network of experts for on-demand, high-quality reporting.
- Stay on top of compliance deadlines, even during peak periods.
Why a Tiered Approach Wins
Meeting the demands of the Renters Reform Bill and Awaab’s Law requires an inspection process that can adapt, without compromising on quality or compliance. A tiered approach provides a scalable, cost-effective solution, combining different inspection methods that can be used depending on the situation at hand. This flexibility ensures landlords, agents, and housing providers can efficiently manage their portfolios without taking their eye off of regulatory requirements.
Whether it’s empowering tenants to conduct app-guided self-assessments, using remote video inspections for quicker follow-ups, or sending qualified professionals for hands-on evaluations using the app, a tiered system keeps you proactive.
Taking a tiered approach with Inventory Base means that issue detection is timely, legal standards are complied to, and property management remains seamless, with processes that are:
- Frequent – Regular checks to identify and address issues early.
- Flexible – Options for self-service, live video, outsourced, or on-site visits.
- Efficient – Maximise resources without compromising standards.
- Reliable – Clear, accountable reporting that leaves nothing overlooked.
- Compliant – Meet legal obligations and deadlines while safeguarding tenants.
Here’s The Bottom Line
With Inventory Base, you’re not just meeting compliance – you’re staying in control.
Whether it’s tenant-led inspections, live video reviews, fully outsourced reporting through Workstreams, or detailed on-site assessments, you’ll have everything you need to keep properties safe, standards high, and tenants protected.
The rental landscape is changing. Are you inspection-ready?