Major step in Awaab's Law after M.E.N.campaign

The government is backing calls for damp and mould in social housing to be repaired within a week of inspection - or 24 hours in severe cases.

- STEPHEN TOPPING

A consultation was being launched today on the timeframes for inspections and repairs which form part of Awaab's Law. The legislation was passed last summer following the death of Awaab Ishak. The two-year-old's death in December 2020 was linked by a coroner to mould at his family's social flat in Rochdale, while an M.E.N. investigation in 2022 found residents on the same estate were living with similar issues.

It sparked a successful campaign for Awaab's Law, backed by more than 177,000 M.E.N. readers in a change.org petition. The consultation launched today proposes new legal requirements for social landlords to investigate hazards within 14 days and start fixing them within a further seven days, in line with the Awaab's Law campaign.