Social landlords will be forced to investigate and fix dangerous damp and mould in set time periods, as well as repair all emergency hazards within 24 hours from today
The new legislation which comes into force today is in honour of two-year-old Awaab Ishak who tragically died following prolonged exposure to damp and mould in his Rochdale home
Awaab’s father Faisal Abdullah had repeatedly raised the issue with the flat with Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH).
“How – in the UK in 2020 – does a two-year-old child die from exposure to mould in his home?” Coroner Joanne Kearsley asked during the inquest.
It ruled that Awaab died died as a result of a severe respiratory condition, caused due to prolonged exposure to mould at home.
The law will require Landlords to respond to hazards within a set time frame, such as 14 days to investigate a hazard, 7 days to fix it, and 24 hours for emergency hazards
Landlords must conduct thorough property inspections and use professional services to prevent and fix damp and mold issues as well as performing regular maintenance and keeping a record of correspondence with residents and contractors
Landlords who fail to comply face being taken to court, with social tenants able to use the full powers of the law to hold them to account.
The Government has promised that the law will be extended into the private rental sector
