Free Webinar – Awaab’s Law, and Five Years of ‘Fitness’

In 2025 the government introduced ‘Awaab’s Law’, setting out strict time periods for remedying serious hazards in the social housing sector. One of the aims of the Renters Rights Act is to introduce similar provisions to the private rented sector.

2025 also marks five years since the ‘fitness for human habitation’ covenant was implied into existing tenancies.

This webinar explored the changing landscape of housing conditions law, with these two developments particularly in mind. Guidance was provided to practitioners on how to litigate and enforce Awaab’s Law, as well as reflections on the implementation of the ‘fitness’ provisions. The panel considered the ongoing use of ‘lifestyle’ defences in damp and mould dispute, damages in ‘fitness’ cases, and tips and strategies for disrepair disputes.

Speakers 

Georgie Rae, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers (Chair)
Georgie has a detailed knowledge of possession proceedings, having previously worked as a self-employed County Court Advocate prior to taking Tenancy. She regularly conducts work across all areas of housing law, including succession, homelessness, possession, and disrepair, in addition to accommodation-related aspects of community care law. She provides practical advice relating to directions, evidence, and creative settlement solutions in complex cases. Over the last year, Georgie has represented clients through to trial in unlawful eviction claims, with a 100% success rate to date. In these matters, she has secured significant damages for the affected tenants.

Catherine O’Donnell, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers 
Catherine is a member of the Housing and Civil Teams. Since coming to the bar, she has built up extensive experience in a range of courts and tribunals, including the Court of Appeal, and has dedicated her practice to defending individuals’ economic, social and human rights. Catherine’s housing practice spans the whole range of tenancy and housing matters, includes possession (anti-social behaviour, rent, breach of tenancy, tenancy status, sub-letting, succession, beneficial interests, public law), anti-social behaviour injunctions, unlawful eviction, and disrepair. She is regularly instructed in complex possession trials, especially those involving mental health issues, where she brings to bear her extensive knowledge of disability discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. She also acts and advises in the whole range of homelessness work, including county court appeals and claims for judicial review.

Marina Sergides, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
Marina Sergides specialises in all aspects of social housing law. She has extensive experience in nuisance possession proceedings, section 204 homelessness appeals, unlawful eviction and harassment claims, disrepair claims, judicial review, human rights, public law defences, disability discrimination and ASBO in the civil courts. Previously, Marina was the Co-Chair of the Housing Law Practitioners Association. She regularly speaks at housing law conferences, has written for Legal Action Magazine. Marina was a lecturer in housing law at London South Bank University and is a contributor to Housing Law Handbook: A Practical Guide (2nd edition).