Relying on traditional ways of keeping properties in good condition may no longer be sufficient following the implementation of Awaab’s Law. The tighter deadlines imposed mean that social housing landlords have to be more proactive than ever before in tackling emergency hazards.
However, digital systems may be able to play a role in helping to keep up with health and safety obligations.
Can environmental sensors help social housing landlords?
While Awaab’s Law was created to tackle a wide range of concerns in social housing, it is the issue of damp, mould and poor ventilation that the use of environmental sensors may be able to assist with.
Environmental sensors are capable of monitoring the quality of the air in a property alongside collecting readings on temperature, humidity, dew point and carbon dioxide. These readings could be used to identify at-risk properties even if they are not currently demonstrating issues with damp and mould.
When the sensors detect an ongoing issue that could cause a significant problem to arise, social housing landlords would be able to launch early targeted inspections to determine the cause of the problem and resolve it accordingly.
What are the legal implications for social housing landlords using environmental sensors?
Environmental sensors can reduce the need to physically enter properties to conduct inspections, which can both help with tenants who feel uncomfortable giving access, while preventing the need for repeat visits.
However, as with all things that collect data, environmental sensors need to be handled in a way that aligns with data protection laws. While the intention behind environmental sensors can be good, these devices are capable of collecting data that can reveal details of behaviour that should be private. For example, carbon dioxide levels can indicate the number of people in a property and where they prefer to gather together.
Therefore, social housing landlords should not endeavour to collect data for any purpose besides ensuring tenant safety, and all data should be kept secure in accordance with the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018. Any device installed in a property should not have the capability of collecting photos or videos, as this would be an obvious and clear breach of privacy, even if such features were disabled.
It is important that social housing landlords communicate carefully with tenants about the nature of the sensors, the benefit of installing them, and how the data will be used.
It is also worth noting that the data collected by the sensors will be considered relevant evidence if a case is brought before the Housing Ombudsman by a tenant. This means that if a sensor detects an issue that is ignored and the property breaches Awaab’s Law obligations, questions will be asked as to why the sensor was ignored.
We understand that Awaab’s Law has fundamentally changed the way that social housing landlords approach maintenance in their properties. Our team can help you to manage these legal obligations in a way that does not expose risks in other areas.
For expert support in keeping compliant with Awaab’s Law, speak to our team today.
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The content of this article is for general information only. It is not, and should not be taken as, legal advice. If you require any further information in relation to this article please contact the author in the first instance. Law covered as at March 2026.