A new law named Awaab’s Law has been implemented following the tragic death of a two-year-old boy, Awaab Ishak, who passed away in December 2020 due to a respiratory condition caused by prolonged exposure to mould in his family’s social housing flat in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. Despite his father, Faisal Ishak, repeatedly raising concerns about the mould to the housing provider, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, no action was taken.
Awaab’s death prompted the introduction of Awaab’s Law, which requires landlords to promptly address reported hazards in social housing and relocate tenants to safe accommodations if necessary. Landlords in England failing to improve living conditions for tenants could face legal action and compensation orders under this new law.
A recent UK-wide survey by Censuswide for the Health Equals campaign revealed that a significant number of individuals living in social and private rented accommodations faced issues like damp, mould, or condensation. The campaign emphasizes the detrimental impact of poor living conditions on people’s health and advocates for extending the stringent requirements for social landlords to the private rented sector.
The new rules mandate landlords of England’s four million social rent homes to address emergency health and safety hazards within 24 hours of reporting. Landlords must investigate significant damp and mould within 10 working days, make necessary repairs within five days, and communicate findings to tenants promptly. If vulnerable individuals reside in the property, alternative accommodation must be provided if safety improvements cannot be made within the specified timeframes.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed emphasized the importance of ensuring safe and decent living conditions for all residents, citing Awaab Ishak’s case as a poignant reminder of the critical need for such measures. Mr. Ishak expressed gratitude for the new law but acknowledged that while it cannot bring his son back, it may prevent similar tragedies in the future.
In the aftermath of Awaab’s death, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing faced consequences, with funding being withdrawn, and its chief executive being dismissed. Mr. Ishak highlighted the emotional toll of losing his child and stressed the importance of learning from their experience to prevent similar incidents.