Enfield Council is set to allocate an additional £1.5 million to address housing repairs, primarily in response to Awaab's Law. The decision was revealed during the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on Wednesday, 19 November 2025, as part of a broader financial update.
The funding, drawn from the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) reserves, aims to cover the increased expenditure on repairs mandated by Awaab's Law. This law, enacted following the tragic death of Awaab Ishak due to mould exposure in social housing, has prompted the council to bolster its repair services and ensure the allocated funds are effectively used to prevent future tragedies related to housing conditions.
The financial update, presented by Neil Goffard, Head of Financial Strategy, highlighted the council's overall financial position. While the General Fund Revenue is facing a £7.5 million overspend, primarily driven by demands in adult social care, children's services, and temporary accommodation, the HRA is in a position to absorb the additional repair costs.
The council's Public reports pack indicated that a transformation of the repairs service is underway to deliver annual savings, ensuring that the in-year budget increases do not negatively impact the operating margin in the long term. The HRA capital area is forecasting spend of £139.9m against the budget of £145.6m. The transformation of the repairs service is underway to deliver annual savings.
The Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting also included discussions on the council's Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) and the draft Overview & Scrutiny Committee Work Programme 2025/26.
