‘Far too many’ homes ‘don’t meet decent standard’ says former housing secretary

Former housing secretary Robert Jenrick has said "far too many" homes in the UK "don't meet a decent standard", following the death of twoyear-old Awaab Ishak caused by mould in his family flat.

Mr Jenrick, housing secretary from July 2019 to September 2021 and now immigration minister, also said that many housing associations have become "too large" with executive pay "off the charts".

Awaabdiedf roma respiratorycondition caused by mould in December 2020, the same year in which ga re ths war brick, former chief executive of his flat's owner, rochdale borough wide Housing, was paid £170,000.

Mr Swarbrick was removed from his position on Saturday after refusing to resign.

Mr Jenrick said that "there are unfortunately far too many properties in this country that don't meet a decent standard".

"We've done a number of things in recent years to try to tackle that," Mr Jenrick said.

"Hopefully, the most important one will be creating a new regulator for social housing.

"Housing associations, i think, in some cases have moved away from their charitable and social purposes, and have become too large, not sufficiently focused on the interests and needs of the resident.

"And, as you say, some of the executive pay is off the charts, that needs to change."

Mr Jenrick added that "evidence suggests" the private rental sector has on average even "lower standards than the social rented sector".

This comes after the current Housing Secretary, Michael Gove, said that deaths like that of Awaab must "never be allowed to happen again".