The housing association responsible for Awaab Ishak's home has been slammed for failing to tackle damp and mould for hundreds of tenants until after it was shamed into action by the Manchester Evening News . Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) announced it would inspect every property on the Freehold estate for damp and mould following our investigation, which was published in August.
While breaking the news of Awaab's death at the age of two, the M.E.N. also revealed the plight of other families on the same estate, where children suffered breathing issues while tenants battled to tackle stubborn issues of damp and mould. Now, the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has condemned RBH for sitting on its hands for almost two years after Awaab died in December 2020.
Following an investigation sparked by Awaab's inquest, which ruled the tot's death followed prolonged exposure to mould, the RSH says it has found 'significant failings' in the way RBH deals with damp and mould - beyond the findings of coroner Joanne Kearsley. RBH has therefore breached the regulator’s consumer and governance standards, with the body urging the landlord to take action.
