Awaab's Law: At least three per cent of social housing…

Awaab's Law: At least three per cent of social housing has problems with mould and damp, report finds

A government watchdog has found that at least three per cent of social housing properties have a 'notable' problem with mould and damp.

It follows a review of local authorities and housing associations, which manage more than four million homes across England, in the wake of the death of Awaab Ishak.

The toddler died aged two in December 2020 following prolonged exposure to mould at his family's home in Rochdale, after their social landlord failed to act for several months.

Today (Thursday) the government's Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) published its initial findings following a survey of housing providers across the country commissioned in the wake of the Awaab's damning inquest report n November last year.

The watchdog found some landlords provided a 'poor' response to the survey but it's 'best estimates' are that between three and four per cent of social housing properties suffer from 'at least some notable damp and mould'.

The regulator estimated between one and two per cent of social housing has a 'serious problem' with damp and mould while a tiny fraction (0.2 per cent) have the most serious problems which would fail housing industry standards.

The report said: "These are not acceptable conditions for tenants to be living in, even if the proportions are relatively small."

The Manchester Evening News is campaigning for Awaab's Law in his memory. It would set strict timelines for damp and mould to be inspected and repaired, ensure priority is given for new social housing bids when an existing home poses a health risk, and lead to clear information for all tenants on their rights.

The housing secretary Michael Gove gave his support to the campaign on a visit to Rochdale last November. In a letter to Rochdale coroner Joanne Kearsley, he confirmed plans to submit an amendment to the Social Housing Regulation Bill, following our campaign.

Following the coroner’s November 2022 report into Awaab's death, the regulator asked all larger social landlords to submit evidence about the extent of damp and mould in tenants’ homes, and their approach to tackling it.

The regular found that most social housing landlords 'understand the extent of damp and mould in their tenants’ homes and take action to tackle it, but could strengthen their approach'.

It said the 'vast majority' of homes that came under the scope of its review were free from damp and mould. However, it acknowledged living with it had a 'serious impact on tenants’ health and wellbeing' and that it was 'essential' landlords identify and address these problems 'promptly and effectively'.

The regular said some landlords had 'submitted poor quality responses that lacked the detail needed for RSH to have confidence about their approach to tackling damp and mould'.

Although it did not name the offending landlords, the regulator said it would 'follow up directly' with them, and those reporting a high number of homes with damp and mould.

It vowed to take regulatory action 'where needed' and promised to introduce 'more active' regulation from April 2024, including inspections to examine the quality of homes as well as the presence of damp and mould.

Fiona MacGregor, chief executive of RSH, said: “Tenants deserve quality services and homes that are safe and of a decent standard. Where there are issues, landlords need to act now to put things right, before we start our active consumer regulation including inspections of providers.

"We expect all providers to continue to look at how they can improve the way they identify and address damp and mould."

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