How is it possible for social housing landlords Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH), to do nothing when warned of excessive mould and damp in a young boy’s home which many months later led to his tragic death?

2-year-old Awaab Ishak died, the coroner confirmed, due to official ignorance of the risks of mould and its spoors, poor communication due to language difficulties and slow legal procedures taking precedence over urgent practical action to fix the problem.

The father was fobbed off with inadequate instructions to paint over any mould himself.  Unfortunately, we can be reasonably sure there are many more cases of mould and damp causing illness and suffering that do not come to light.

This is an example of bureaucratic betrayal of a precious young life, due to dreadful conditions in social housing that are all too common.

Those responsible are finally reacting with soothing words for Awaab’s family. 

Some people are suggesting that there is a racial element to their poor response, but it seems likely that it was the family’s poverty and lack of English that led to such bureaucratic failure. It was simply too much trouble to respond properly in timely fashion.

We must have more transparency and timely information about social housing failures and powerful incentives for correction of disrepair including legal actions against inadequate performance by social housing landlords.

We are paying for high standards in social housing, and we are right to expect the best from all involved.

Nigel Carter

UK Independence Party



Pic Credit: Dr. David Midgley, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons