Gove tells councils to strip deadly mould from homes
Housing Secretary demands action to tackle issues with damp after two-year-old boy’s death
MICHAEL GOVE has launched a crackdown on councils and housing providers renting out mould-infested homes following the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak.
Awaab died from “chronic exposure to harmful mould” a few days after his birthday in Dec 2020 at his parents’ flat in Rochdale, Greater Manchester.
The little boy had suffered severe breathing problems with fungus in his blood and lungs, an inquest was told last week.
Following days of mounting pressure from the child’s family, ministers and MPs, the chief executive of the housing association responsible for the uninhabitable flat was sacked from his £185,000-a-year post last night.
Gareth Swarbrick was ousted from the job by the board of Rochdale Boroughwide Housing after refusing to step down voluntarily.
Now the Housing Secretary has warned he is putting housing providers “on notice”.
Mr Gove has ordered all local authority heads in England to provide details of damp and mould issues affecting their privately rented properties, along with remedial plans of action. Details of fines and prosecutions launched over damp and mould hazards must also be submitted to his department, Mr Gove’s statement added.
Housing providers Clarion, Southern Housing Group, Onward Homes, Catalyst Housing, PA Housing and Johnnie Johnson Housing were singled out for criticism by Mr Gove following recent findings of “severe maladministration” by the housing ombudsman.
Mr Gove said: “The tragic death of Awaab Ishak has rightly shocked people across the country. This is an appalling case of the utmost gravity and it is abhorrent that anyone should have to live in such conditions in Britain today.
“Today I am taking further action to stand up for tenants.
“Alongside delivering new laws on tougher social housing regulation, I am directing all councils across England to make an urgent assessment of housing conditions for tenants in their area with particular focus on issues of damp and mould, and enforcement action being taken.
“I am putting housing providers on notice, I will take whatever action is required to improve standards across the country and ensure tenants’ voices are heard.
“Everyone has the right to feel safe in their homes, and the death of a child like Awaab Ishak must never be allowed to happen again.”
RBH said it was “deeply sorry” for the death of Awaab and added: “We must ensure this can never happen again. His death needs to be a wake-up call.” The inquest heard last week that Faisal Abdhulla and Aisha Amin, Awaab’s parents, repeatedly raised concerns with RBH about the flat’s conditions.
But no action was taken, with the social landlord blaming the mould on “family lifestyle”.
The bathroom had no window, the fan did not work effectively and the window from the kitchen, which had no mechanical ventilation, opened on to a communal hallway.
Awaab’s father had been told to “paint over’’ the mould, and the family, originally from Sudan, claimed they were the victims of racial prejudice.
Joanne Kearsley, the senior coroner, said the “engaging, lively, endearing” child died from prolonged exposure to mould and the tragedy should be a “defining moment” for the UK’s housing sector.
The housing ombudsman, an England-wide regulator, has announced an investigation into possible “systemic” failings of RBH, which looks after more than 12,000 homes.
Rochdale council has called for the housing stock to be returned to local authority control.