New housing rules after death of boy

Government announces changes to mould and damp guidance for landlords

- By AMY WALKER

GUIDANCE to landlords in England over mould and damp health risks will be reviewed following the death of tragic Awaab Ishak. 

Awaab, aged two, died from a respiratory condition caused by exposure to mould at his Rochdale home, an inquest found.

The government has announced that it will table an amendment to the Social Housing Regulation Bill relating to hazards in social homes, they said. The housing and health secretaries said new guidance would come in this summer.

It comes after a coroner asked the government to take action to prevent future deaths – and a M.E.N. campaign in association with charity Shelter for the introduction of ‘Awaab’s Law’.

Awaab’s father Faisal Abdullah repeatedly complained to his landlord Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) about the issue of mould in their one-bedroom flat on the Freehold Estate.