Politicians have expressed anger and grief after the Manchester Evening News revealed the death of a two-year-old boy that had been living in a damp-ridden property. Awaab Ishak died in December 2020, with Rochdale Coroners' Court hearing how his post-mortem established a medical link between the conditions he was breathing in and his death, just days after his second birthday.
Readers reacted with anger after the news broke this week, with an M.E.N. investigation exposing similar conditions that tenants on the same Freehold estate in Rochdale are still living in even now, more than 18 months after Awaab's death. Families spoke of taking their young children to hospital with breathing problems, while some had received letters from GPs calling on them to move home.
The M.E.N. asked Rochdale Council on Tuesday for an interview with its leader, Coun Neil Emmott, about Awaab's death and the findings of the Freehold investigation. The council said Coun Emmott would not be available for interview but would respond to written questions, which the M.E.N. submitted the following day. Those questions are yet to be answered.
READ MORE about the tragedy surrounding Awaab Ishak's death:
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During a press conference this week, Andy Burnham described Awaab's death as an 'appalling state of affairs', telling reporters he had 'nothing but sympathy and concern' for his family. The mayor of Greater Manchester added: "Nobody, certainly no child should grow up in a home that's cold, that's damp, that's unfit for human habitation.
"Where are we going as a country? This is just disgraceful in this day and age that kids are growing up in this kind of situation. It has to stop and I'm looking first to our social landlords to lead that change."
Angela Rayner, Labour's deputy leader and MP for Ashton-under-Lyne, added: "Awaab’s family suffered an unthinkable tragedy and I would like to offer them my most sincere condolences on the tragic loss of their son at such a young age. The M.E.N. ’s investigation into the living conditions on the Freehold estate where Awaab lived shines a light on serious problems that severely affect many residents across Greater Manchester.
"It’s not right that families with babies and young children are having to seek medical assistance due to mould and damp in their own homes. Profits should never matter more than people and residents’ concerns should never go unheard.
"There are millions of families in rented social housing in England and every one of them deserves a decent and safe home. We should all feel a sense of shame that families across Greater Manchester live in homes that are unsafe, damp and overcrowded with black mould and water running down the walls."
In Parliament, the cross-party Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee recently published a report urging social housing providers to improve their complaint handling process. It found that 'too many' tenants across the country were living in 'uninhabitable' conditions - with high levels of disrepair and housing which is simply too old.
The committee found that around 16,000 social homes in England have damp 'bad enough to present a serious hazard'. Following the M.E.N. 's investigation, committee chairman Clive Betts MP said: "The circumstances of Awaab’s death are utterly heartbreaking, and my heart goes out to his family for their tragic loss.
"Awaab’s case brings home the appalling reality of the conditions endured by too many social housing tenants, and the serious health impacts that damp and mould can bring. Preventing damp and mould, and making swift repairs when they do occur, must be a priority for every provider; not taking actions will result in further tragic events. Our inquiry into the regulation of social housing heard that, across England, the situation is still urgent for many, many families."
Mr Betts describes the situation nationwide as a 'long-running and ongoing crisis' which could deepen this winter as the cost of living rises. He added: "All of our homes ought to be places of safety - but Awaab’s was not, and far too many others like him are faced with the same conditions right now. Providing housing for other people is a weighty responsibility. All providers must live up to it.”
Following the investigation, RBH also expressed its sympathy for Awaab's family and confirmed it would inspect all homes on Freehold. It pointed out it had invested £175 million into its properties since taking on Rochdale's social housing stock in 2012.
Gareth Swarbrick, chief executive, added: "We are saddened to hear about the issues raised by residents in this piece. We have made direct contact with all the residents to look at how we can support them and to ensure their homes are at the standard we would wish to see."
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