The father of a two-year-old boy who tragically passed away due to exposure to mould in their social housing residence expressed his desire to prevent others from enduring a similar ordeal, as a new legislation named after his son takes effect following the heartbreaking incident.
Awaab Ishak lost his life in December 2020 as a result of a respiratory illness triggered by prolonged exposure to mould in their family’s housing association flat located in Rochdale, Greater Manchester.
Despite Faisal Ishak’s persistent complaints to the housing provider, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, regarding the mould issue over a span of three years leading up to his son’s demise, no action was taken.
The untimely death of the young child prompted significant public outcry and led to the implementation of Awaab’s Law, which mandates landlords to promptly address reported hazards in social housing and relocate tenants to safe accommodations if necessary.
Under this new law, social housing landlords in England could face legal repercussions and compensation claims if they fail to expeditiously improve living conditions for tenants, especially in cases involving damp, mould, or condensation issues.
A recent nationwide survey revealed that 23% of individuals reporting housing issues such as dampness, mould, or condensation were social renters, while 21% resided in privately rented properties, underscoring the widespread nature of the problem.
Advocates are calling for the swift extension of the stringent requirements imposed on social landlords to cover the private rental sector as well. Although the government has committed to extending Awaab’s Law to this sector through the Renters’ Rights Bill, a definitive timeline for this extension is yet to be established.
Chief campaigns officer Paul McDonald emphasized the need to go beyond Awaab’s Law, citing their research findings that highlight the detrimental impact of housing issues like dampness, cold, and mould on individuals across the UK.
The newly enacted regulations mandate landlords of England’s four million social rental homes to promptly address hazardous living conditions, including emergency repairs within 24 hours of notification, investigation of significant damp and mould within 10 working days, and communication of findings to tenants within three working days of inspection.
In situations involving vulnerable individuals, landlords must offer alternative accommodation if properties cannot be made safe within specified timeframes. Housing Secretary Steve Reed emphasized the importance of ensuring safe and adequate housing for all residents, acknowledging the tragic circumstances that led to the creation of Awaab’s Law.
Mr. Ishak expressed gratitude for the new protective law while acknowledging that it cannot undo the loss of his son, emphasizing the importance of preventing similar tragedies in the future.
Following Awaab’s demise, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing faced severe consequences, including the revocation of its funding and the dismissal of its chief executive, Gareth Swarbrick, whose substantial earnings during the year of Awaab’s passing raised further scrutiny.
Mr. Ishak highlighted the challenges he faced following his son’s sudden death and stressed the importance of learning from their experience to prevent such incidents from recurring.