The housing boss in charge of a mouldy home which killed two-year-old Awaab Ishak is facing growing pressure to quit, as the social housing watchdog launched an investigation into possible “systemic” failings and an MP accused his organisation of being a “modern-day slumlord”.
The housing secretary, Michael Gove, spoke to Gareth Swarbrick on Wednesday and told parliament it was “clear … there are systemic problems in the governance and leadership” of Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) which looks after more than 12,000 homes. He previously said it “beggars belief” Swarbrick was still in his post.
