A petition was launched calling for a new law to prevent any more children dying from damp and mouldy social housing needs 20k more signatures to be debated in Parliament.
It comes after the shocking and harrowing death of Awaab Ishak, who died in 2020 after mould and damp was left untreated at his Rochdale home for years. Awaab's Law, a campaign set up by out sister title, Manchester Evening News, and the charity Shelter, would compel housing associations not to allow any other child, or anyone else, to live in uninhabitable conditions like the toddler suffered for so long. You can sign the petition here.
The two-year-old died as a direct result of prolonged exposure to damp and mould at the one-bedroom flat he lived at on the Freehold housing estate, ruled coroner Joanne Kearsley.
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His death was branded by Ms Kearsley as a "defining moment" for the housing sector as an inquest heard that action to treat and prevent the mould was not taken by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing. Now, the M.E.N has teamed up with housing charity Shelter to launch a petition calling for Awaab's Law, which would require landlords to investigate the causes of damp and mould within 14 days of complaints being made and provide tenants with a report on the findings.
It would also give social landlords seven days to begin work to repair a property if a medical professional believes there is a risk to a tenant's health. Awaab's Law will also ensure bids for new social housing properties are treated as a high priority if a medical professional has recommended a tenant moves home after identifying a risk to health at their existing property.
It will also mandate social landlords to provide all tenants with information on their rights, how to make a complaint and what standards they can expect under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, provided in simple English or the language a tenant is most proficient in.
The petition is also calling for MPs and peers to support The Social Housing Regulation Bill that is currently going through parliament. If approved, it would bring back regulation on consumer standards for social housing.
The petition is also urging for the bill to be strengthened with the use of Ofsted-style inspections at short notice and increased professionalism of housing management to improve the experience of tenants, including those living with damp and mould.
The petition has reached 80,000 signatures in just five days and needs just 20k more for it to be considered for a debate in Parliament.
Recording her damning conclusion in Awaab's case on Tuesday (15 December), Ms Kearsley said: "I'm sure I am not alone in asking how does this happen? How in the UK in 2020 does a two-year-old child die from exposure to mould in his home?
"The evidence from this inquest quite clearly showed that this issue is not simply a Rochdale problem. Nor is damp and mould simply a social housing problem."
You can sign the petition here.
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