Home Group - Awaab's Law Critical Friend Support

Home Group is one of the biggest housing associations in the UK, housing over 120,000 people in 55,000 homes across England, Scotland, and Wales. 

Project Overview 

Home Group appointed the Pennington Choices consultancy team to provide ongoing critical friend support as they prepared for and responded to the requirements of Awaab’s Law.

Our role was to provide independent third-party assurance and practical advice across a range of areas, helping Home Group strengthen its systems and processes in alignment with the changing requirements of Awaab’s Law.

Awaab’s Law Phase 1 came into force on 27th October 2025, introducing strict timeframes for landlords to address damp and mould and emergency hazards. Phase 2 will come into force on 30th November 2026, extending these requirements to a broader range of HHSRS hazards, with full implementation expected in 2027.

With the requirements continuing to develop, Home Group wanted access to independent expertise to assess its approach, provide assurance, and support its teams as they adapted to the new requirements. 

How Pennington Choices Supported Home Group with Awaab's Law

We provided Home Group with Awaab’s Law Critical Friend Support across a range of areas, working alongside its teams to review and strengthen its approach to the new requirements.

This included:

• Systems and Process Reviews: We provided advice and helped identify any gaps around Home Group’s systems and processes, helping to ensure they could meet the requirements and timescales under Awaab’s Law.

• Case and Process Advice: Home Group could draw on our specialist knowledge when dealing with specific questions or scenarios, providing an independent perspective on how the requirements should be interpreted and applied.

• Investigation and Commencement of Repair (Scotland) Regulations 2026: We also provided critical friend support in relation to the Investigation and Commencement of Repair (Scotland) Regulations 2026, helping Home Group understand the Scottish regulations and how their similar requirements to Awaab’s Law should be reflected in its approach.

• Ongoing Critical Friend Support: Our team provided independent advice as Home Group continued to develop its approach, giving them access to specialist knowledge when needed.

• Triage Matrix Review: We reviewed the client’s triage document for its contact centre and front-line staff to support how individual repairs and cases are categorised at the front end. 

The flexible, tailored nature of the support allowed Home Group to use us as an independent third party when they needed additional assurance, advice, or challenge, rather than taking a one-size-fitsall approach. 

Our Achievements

We have helped Home Group strengthen its approach to Awaab’s Law across its systems, processes, and policies, while providing independent assurance as the requirements continue to evolve.

Our involvement has also extended to the Scottish requirements, giving Home Group access to specialist third-party advice as it prepares for the Investigation and Commencement of Repair (Scotland) Regulations 2026.

The support has provided Home Group with an independent perspective on its approach, helping its teams identify areas for improvement, address any potential gaps, and build confidence in the arrangements they have in place. 

Client Testimonial

 "Pennington Choices have provided valuable independent support as we are adapting to the changing requirements of Awaab’s Law. Their practical advice and assurance have helped us review and strengthen our systems, processes, and policies, while their knowledge of the Scottish requirements has also been particularly useful. Having access to experienced critical friend support gives us confidence that we have an independent perspective to draw on as our approach continues to develop over the coming years." - Programme Manager at Home Group