A petition calling for a new law to prevent any more children dying from exposure to damp and mould in social housing is nearing 100,000 signatures after just five days. An inquest into the death of Awaab Ishak prompted an outcry this week after it found he died in December 2020 from a respiratory condition caused by mould in the one-bedroom housing association flat where he lived with his parents, Faisal Abdullah and Aisha Amin, in Rochdale, Greater Manchester.
The inquest into Awaab’s death heard concerns were repeatedly raised to landlord Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) about mould in the flat on the town’s Freehold estate. As a result of the inquest’s findings, Gareth Swarbrick, the chief executive of RBH, was removed from his position on Saturday.
Following the toddler's inquest, the Manchester Evening News partnered with housing charity Shelter to launch a petition calling for the introduction of Awaab's Law, which would compel housing associations not to allow anyone, particularly children, to live in unhabitable conditions like Awaab and his family had to endure for long.
So far, more than 82,000 people have signed the Manchester Evening News's petition, which calls on Michael Gove, the Minister for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, to bring together families affected by poor living conditions, housing policy experts and politicians to create this law immediately.
Mr Gove last week wrote to every English council leader and social housing provider as he warned that deaths like that of Awaab’s must “never be allowed to happen again”. He said housing providers should carry out assessments of damp and mould in their properties, as well as any action that may need to be taken to tackle the issue.
The two-year-old died as a direct result of prolonged exposure to damp and mould at the one-bedroom flat he lived at on the Freehold housing estate, ruled coroner Joanne Kearsley. His death was branded by Ms Kearsley as a 'defining moment' for the housing sector as an inquest heard that action to treat and prevent the mould was not taken by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing.
The petition reads: "Awaab Ishak died aged just two years old after living in a mouldy and poorly ventilated flat that led to him suffering heart failure. His home was unfit for human habitation but Rochdale Boroughwide Housing consistently ignored the family’s desperate pleas, which ultimately led to Awaab’s death.
"Awaab was an engaging, lively and endearing young boy with his entire life ahead of him. His mother said of him “He was always full of smiles. He liked to joke and was full of life. He used to enjoy playing on his bike. He always wanted to be with us. His absence leaves a huge void.
"Awaab’s death could and should have been prevented. He died at the hands of a housing association unconcerned with his safety. Thousands of people across the UK are forced to live in homes with deadly damp and mould that are left untreated for months and even years, just like Awaab and his family.
"This can’t continue. Join us in demanding justice for Awaab Ishak. We want Awaab’s Law to make sure no other child, or anyone else, dies due to mould in their home."
The law would require landlords to investigate the causes of damp and mould within 14 days of complaints being made and provide tenants with a report on the findings. It would also give social landlords seven days to begin work to repair a property if a medical professional believes there is a risk to a tenant's health.
Awaab's Law will also ensure bids for new social housing properties are treated as a high priority if a medical professional has recommended a tenant moves home after identifying a risk to health at their existing property. It will, too, mandate social landlords to provide all tenants with information on their rights, how to make a complaint and what standards they can expect under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, provided in simple English or the language a tenant is most proficient in.
The Manchester Evening News is also calling for MPs and peers to support The Social Housing Regulation Bill that is currently going through parliament. If approved, it would bring back regulation on consumer standards for social housing.
The petition is also urging for the bill to be strengthened with the use of Ofsted-style inspections at short notice and increased professionalism of housing management to improve the experience of tenants, including those living with damp and mould. Recording her damning conclusion on Tuesday (15 December), Ms Kearsley said: "I'm sure I am not alone in asking how does this happen? How in the UK in 2020 does a two-year-old child die from exposure to mould in his home?
"The evidence from this inquest quite clearly showed that this issue is not simply a Rochdale problem. Nor is damp and mould simply a social housing problem."
You can sign the petition online at www.change.org/p/awaab-s-law-to-prevent-any-more-children-dying-from-damp-and-mouldy-social-housing
