Awaab’s Law latest as damp and mould reported at more than 2,000 RBH homes
The interim chief of Rochdale Boroughwide Housing has welcomed the latest breakthrough of the Awaab Act as more than 2,000 of his properties have been hit by damp and mold. Plans to change the law commemorating Awaab Ishak were confirmed by the government last week.
Awaab died in December 2020, aged two, after a prolonged exposure to mold in his family’s home on Rochdale’s Freehold estate, owned and managed by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH). The housing association knew about the problem several months before his death, but took no action.
Yvonne Arrowsmith, interim chief executive at RBH, met with Housing Secretary Michael Gove as he confirmed that the government is amending a bill currently in Parliament, in line with many of the Awaab Bill campaign’s demands. She said: “I support Awaab’s law and look forward to it being included in the code soon.
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“I would like to once again extend our deepest sympathy and apologies to Awaab’s family. I was grateful to have had the opportunity to meet with the Secretary of State last week to update him on our recovery plan and to discuss the actions we are taking to ensure that all RBH homes are safe and comfortable for our tenants are.”
Ms Arrowsmith has been tasked with reversing RBH following the sacking of Gareth Swarbrick following the Awaab inquest last November. RBH board members, who had lent their support to Mr Swarbrick before ousting the boss days later in an about-face, also announced they would step down in 2023.
Three board members have now resigned from RBH and two new non-executive directors have joined. RBH is currently recruiting a new chief executive who is expected to serve until April, while the search for another non-executive director will begin in the next two weeks.
Ms Arrowsmith says the RBH board will be “fully refreshed” by May this year. Tenant and employee representatives at RBH also voted on Thursday night (February 16) for a rule change that, according to RBH, would allow it to “bring short-term expertise to the board of directors”.
RBH was downgraded by the Social Housing Regulatory Agency (RSH) last December after it found the social landlord had sat on its hands for too long before failing to act on damp and mold following Awaab’s death. The Manchester Evening News revealed conditions at the Freehold estate in an investigation published last August, which found other families suffering from the problem, including some who had children with respiratory problems.
After the investigation, RBH said it would inspect each home for freehold, which led to the discovery that 80% of the properties on the estate were affected by moisture and mold. A Damp and Mold Task Force has now been set up at RBH to investigate reports of damp and mold.
It has now received 2,042 reports of dampness and mold, with inspections carried out and work booked in 1,854 properties. Ms Arrowsmith says a redevelopment plan has also been agreed at RBH, focusing on the quality of tenants’ homes and ensuring RBH is “a tenant-centric organisation”.
The changes announced by RBH come as the legislation is set to be updated following MEN’s campaign for Awaab’s law along with the toddler’s family and Shelter. Amendments to the draft Social Housing Regulations Bill are proposed, introducing deadlines for inspections for dampness and mold and for urgent repairs, while giving tenants clear information about their rights.
Councils and housing associations will also receive new advice on the health and safety risks of damp and mold, while the RSH will be able to conduct Ofsted-style inspections under the bill. Mr Gove met Awaab’s family and legal representatives in Rochdale last week to discuss the measures.
Faisal Abdullah, Awaab’s father, said: “We would like to express our gratitude to Michael Gove and his team for listening to us and doing the right thing. My wife and I are still struggling with the loss of our son, but we finally feel that we are being treated fairly.
“We hope that Awaab’s law will help ensure that no other family has to suffer the same pain that we have gone through. We wouldn’t wish that pain on anyone.”
Mr Gove has also announced £15million to boost social housing in Greater Manchester and withdrawn government money for new homes from RBH following Awaab’s inquiry. He said: “I am really grateful to Awaab Ishak’s family for their campaign, they have a great legal team and of course the Manchester evening news pushes for justice, for Awaab’s law.
“I was able to explain to Awaab’s family that we will change the law according to their wishes. Awaab’s law is becoming a reality and people in public housing are guaranteed to take action if they find their health is at risk and the condition of their home is not good enough.”
MPs will be able to vote on the latest version of the bill to regulate social housing, including amendments to the Awaab law, in the coming weeks. A consultation will follow before setting timeframes for dampness and mold inspections and repairs, although Mr Gove said last week it would take “a lot of convincing” to deviate from what has been campaigned for.
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