The Housing Secretary has told social housing providers they must ‘raise the bar dramatically’ following the coroner’s report into two-year-old Awaab Ishak’s death.
Awaab died from severe respiratory problems in December 2020 after living in social housing covered in untreated black mould.
His father said he had repeatedly called the housing provider Rochdale Borough Housing (RBH) for help but had been told to ‘paint over it.’ The chief executive was fired on Saturday as a result.
Since the coroner’s report released last week, Michael Gove has written to social housing providers urging them to take mould and damp seriously.
‘The coroner’s report into Awaab’s death is a litany of failure,’ he wrote. ‘As housing providers, I expect you to read it in full and absorb its lessons. All social homes must meet the Decent Homes Standard; you must be aware of any that do not and undertake rapid remedial works.’
‘However, in light of this case I expect you to go further than the letter of the Standard and have particular regard to damp and mould,’ he added. ‘Damp and mould are not “lifestyle issues” as the Housing Ombudsman Service underscored last year. Where people complain about damp and mould, you must listen; where you find them, you must take prompt action. To keep tenants safe, you must not hide behind legal process.’
The Housing Secretary told providers to make assessments of damp and mould hazards and to immediately take action on any identified problems.
‘As I said in Parliament this week: every single person in this country, irrespective of where they are from, what they do, or how much money they earn, deserves to live in a home that is decent, safe and secure,’ the letter reads. ‘I expect those who hold the high responsibility of managing people’s homes to ensure that no family experiences such a tragedy again.’
Gove also told MPs social landlords had reacted with ‘defensive behaviour’ when receiving complaints from tenants and the issue may require extra funding to be solved.
He wrote that he was ‘more determined than ever to deliver drastic reforms to the housing sector’, with the Social Housing Regulation Bill set to hold landlords account for providing inadequate homes. The bill is currently making its way through the House of Commons.
Photo by Kier… in Sight