The father of a two-year-old boy who tragically passed away due to exposure to mould in their social housing apartment is determined to prevent others from enduring a similar ordeal, especially as a new law, named Awaab’s Law after his son, is now in effect.
In December 2020, Awaab Ishak lost his life to a respiratory illness caused by prolonged exposure to mould in their family’s housing association flat in Rochdale, Greater Manchester.
Despite Faisal Ishak, Awaab’s father, repeatedly raising concerns about the mould to the housing provider, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, over three years leading up to his son’s tragic death, no actions were taken to address the issue.
The untimely death of the young boy sparked widespread outcry and prompted the introduction of Awaab’s Law, which mandates landlords to swiftly address reported hazards in social housing and relocate tenants to safe accommodations if necessary.
Under this new legislation, social housing landlords in England could face legal action and compensation requirements if they fail to promptly improve living conditions for tenants, particularly in cases of damp, mould, or condensation.
As the regulations take effect in England, a recent UK-wide survey revealed that 23% of individuals facing housing issues like damp, mould, or condensation were social renters, while 21% resided in privately rented accommodations.
Conducted by Censuswide for the Health Equals campaign, the survey involved 3,982 adults and highlighted the detrimental impact of issues such as damp, cold, and mould on residents’ health and well-being across the UK.
Advocates are now pushing for the extension of these stringent requirements for social landlords to be urgently applied to the private rented sector. While the Government has committed to expanding Awaab’s Law to this sector through the Renters’ Rights Bill, the timeline for implementation remains uncertain.
Paul McDonald, Chief Campaigns Officer, emphasized that while Awaab’s Law marks a significant step forward, further measures are needed based on their research findings.
What do the new regulations entail?
Effective starting Monday, the new rules mandate landlords of England’s four million social rent properties to promptly address hazardous living conditions. Landlords are required to rectify emergency health and safety hazards within 24 hours of reporting, ensure prompt investigation of significant damp and mould within 10 working days, and communicate findings to tenants in writing within three working days of inspection.
If vulnerable individuals reside in the property, landlords must offer alternative accommodation if the home cannot be made safe within specified timeframes. Housing Secretary Steve Reed stressed the importance of ensuring safe and decent housing for all, referencing Awaab Ishak’s case as a poignant illustration of the critical nature of adequate living conditions.
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