The housing association responsible for the estate where Awaab Ishak lived has announced the appointment of an interim chief executive. It follows the two-year-old's inquest last month, which concluded that he died in December 2020 following prolonged exposure to mould, leading to fatal breathing difficulties.
The news sent shockwaves around the country, while a Manchester Evening News investigation in the summer revealed that other tenants had been living in similar conditions with damp and mould on the same estate , including families with children who suffered breathing issues. The M.E.N. 's campaign for Awaab's Law has since received support from MPs including the housing secretary, Michael Gove.
In the aftermath of Awaab's inquest, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) stood by its then-chief executive, Gareth Swarbrick. But amid growing pressure from politicians including Mr Gove, and calls from Awaab's family for 'accountability', Mr Swarbrick was eventually ousted by the RBH board - four days on from the inquest's conclusion.
