A tenant was reportedly told to wipe off damp because Stockport housing officers didn't have the right PPE.
Coun David Meller told a town hall meeting the case was one of a number to have recently come to light which Stockport Homes had not dealt with to a ‘satisfactory level’.
The housing association - responsible for managing more than 11,000 council homes in Stockport - has now been urged to speed up its response to complaints in the wake of toddler Awaab Ishak's death in Rochdale.
A motion calling on it to act on complaints ‘without delay’ was passed by the full council after members heard of a case where a child’s bedroom was affected and another tenant who was told to ‘wipe it off’.
It also asked the landlord to prioritise vulnerable tenants, provide tips and guidance for keeping mould at bay and focus on maintaining properties ‘to the highest standard’. Stockport Homes says it has already been working with the council to prioritise this work and ‘remains committed to dealing with complaints effectively and swiftly’.
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The motion was tabled by Coun David Meller, who said that, while Stockport Homes undoubtedly did good work, the borough could not afford to be complacent following the tragic death of Rochdale toddler Awaab Ishak. “We need to ensure we lead from the front on this and we absolutely, categorically do not see what has happened in Rochdale within this borough,” the Labour councillor told the meeting.
“Of course it’s about gaining that assurance and gaining that accountability. As a council we absolutely do need to ensure Stockport Homes are tackling this issue of damp and mould and we don’t have any incidents in terms of what has happened in Rochdale.”
He said the motion had come about due to the recent cases of concern.
“So there are cases that have come through that I don’t believe Stockport Homes have dealt with previously to a satisfactory level - and this is about having that accountability from them,” he added. "I think, as a council, we should come together and absolutely ensure we have that accountability from them.”
Coun Matt Wynne, independent for Edgeley and Cheadle Heath, said he also had concerns. He told the meeting how, over Christmas, he had visited a family who had been trying to have issues with leaks and damp resolved for three years.
“I went into the house, there was damp. I went up the stairs into a children’s bedroom. She was playing on the PC and there was damp on the walls and the wallpaper was coming away,” he said.
“This makes me think how much of this is going on that we don’t know about, that Stockport Homes knows about. Luckily work is now under way to get this sorted out and nipped in the bud, but it does infuriate me.”
The independent also agreed with Coun Meller that Stockport Homes' main focus should be on building and maintaining social housing, rather than branching out into wider services. “I think residents and tenants are getting a little bit impatient with the mission creep that seems to be happening with Stockport Homes - that they are taking on, it seems to be, council services,” he told the meeting.
“I’m not saying that the issues are interlinked but that’s only going to grow frustration with tenants when they are having issues and repairs aren’t being sorted out in good time when they can see Stockport Homes are taking on other roles that the council should be delivering.”
Coun Helen Foster-Grime, cabinet member for communities and housing, said the Lib Dem administration welcomes the motion and took the issue ‘very seriously’. She asked councillors to come forward with any cases so they could be raised with Stockport Homes bosses.
“Stockport Homes are an award-winning company,” she said. “They really do care about their tenants and if you have evidence of that we would be really open to hearing about it.
“We do support it because, from the evidence we have seen, they [Stockport Homes] are taking a particularly robust approach.”
What Stockport Homes says
Stockport Homes Group (SHG) says its approach to damp and mould involves the use of specially trained technical surveyors to undertake full assessments that identify and address all possible causes of damp, and ensure that the property has the proper means to be effectively heated and ventilated.
Bosses point out that addition measures are also being taken, including awareness training for staff, proactively contacting tenants that have reported damp in the last 18 months and reviewing the delivery of associated/support services.
The landlord says its 'mission and aims' are agreed with the council and in consultation with staff, customers, and stakeholders. It takes pride in supporting customers 'in the round' and, 'where it makes strategic and financial sense' offers additional services that wouldn't otherwise exist.
Stockport Homes insists it never duplicates council or other services, but works collaboratively with partners to get the best outcome for residents. The landlord says it would welcome any reports of mould or damp that haven’t been thoroughly investigated and properly addressed, as it is a priority to ensure its homes are not affected by this problem.
Jenny Osbourne, chair of the board at SHG said: “As the Arm’s Length Management Organisation for Stockport council, we are dedicated to the building and maintenance of safe, secure and sustainable homes and communities, whilst providing services for customers, particularly support around the cost of living, at a time when it has never been more vital.”
Stockport council met at the town hall on Thursday night (January 12).
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