The government plans to exclude accommodation used to house asylum seekers from a crackdown on landlords managing social housing, the Guardian revealed this week.
Following the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak from prolonged exposure to black mould in his family’s home, the government said last year that it will force landlords to fix damp and mould problems in social housing.
But the Guardian has since learned that the accommodation housing asylum seekers – who live in a mix of shared housing provided by landlords in the private rented sector and hotel accommodation, often with well-documented mould and damp issues – will not be covered by the legislation. The law will only apply to landlords who are registered social housing providers and if the home in question is under a social housing lease.
We want to speak to asylum seekers in the UK about their accommodation. Do you live in privately rented housing or hotel accommodation? What condition is your housing in – are damp and mould an issue? Who is in your household and how is it affecting you?
