Boy of 2 is killed by mouldy walls
Housing bosses ‘did nothing’
A BOY of two died due to prolonged exposure to mould in a one-bedroom housing association flat, an inquest found.
Awaab Ishak died in hospital of a respiratory condition in December 2020, despite his parents complaining about mould around their home.
Faisal Abdullah and Aisha Aminin, from Sudan, were told to paint over it by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, Greater Manchester, in 2017.
Yesterday a coroner in the town called the tragedy a “defining moment” for the housing sector.
I n June 2020, Faisal began a legal claim but policy meant any repairs would not be done until there was a settlement.
Health visitors also raised issues of mould with RBH.
In a statement, Awaab’s parents said “we shouted as loudly as we could” but they were left feeling “worthless” by RBH, claiming they were treated that way because they were not from the UK.
Senior coroner Joanne Kearsley said: “I’m sure I’m not alone in having thought, ‘How does this happen? How, in the UK in 2020, does a twoyear-old child die from exposure to mould in his home?’.
“The tragic death of Awaab will and should be a defining moment for the housing sector in terms of increasing knowledge, increasing awareness and a deepening of understanding surrounding the issue of damp and mould.”
Housing Secretary Michael Gove called it an “unacceptable tragedy” but said a lack of local authority funding was “no excuse”, adding: “All this what-aboutery, all this ‘If only we had more Government money’ – do your job, man.”
He summoned the housing association’s boss to explain, saying he earns over £150,000 and is “hiding behind procedure”. He added: “It beggars belief this guy is still in office.” RBH chief Gareth Swarbrick said: “We allowed a legal disrepair process, widely used in the housing sector, to get in the way of promptly tackling the mould.
“We must make sure this can never happen again.”
The Rochdale inquest was told an inspection in July 2020 found mould in the kitchen, bathroom and a bedroom cupboard needed treatment.
Ms Kearsley said the mould was due to “daily living activities” and a lack of ventilation, but no action was taken.
A Downing Street spokesman said the Government will “no longer stand for” landlords failing tenants.
Labour MP Clive Betts said the tragedy showed some social housing is completely unfit to live in and called for “serious investment”.