Awaab Ishak, a two-year-old boy who died from complications due to mould growing in his family’s Rochdale home. His tragic passing underscored the hazards associated with mould. It was especially alarming for residences with limited ventilation and pre-existing water damage.
The latest installment of these reports features a resident of the South of England. They are still having a difficult time with chronic mould problems in their home. This person was made to throw out two mattresses that were now mouldy. We learned that water streams down the bunk bed wall in their child’s bedroom each time it rains. This only adds to the dire nature of the crisis.
To its credit, the UK government has acted quickly to address these real and urgent issues. They passed new emergency legislation, which obliges landlords to immediately fix damp and mould problems. This legislation is a direct result of Awaab Ishak’s case. His story was a reminder of the urgent need to address health hazards associated with all mould exposures.
Not only does mould endanger health, but the negative effects are most serious for young children. It can lead to severe respiratory failure and other serious complications. These new laws make landlords responsible for adhering to home standards. They need to fix all mould immediately.
A council spokesperson commented on the changes, stating, “We have learned from this and have more robust timescales in place to address ongoing damp and mould issues.”
In the words of the Housing Ombudsman, there are “deep-seated cultural issues” at play. Most importantly, they pointed out the complete absence of a level of urgency required to address mould issues. “This reluctance to make further reports shows a loss in confidence in the landlord and a further breakdown of the relationship,” they stated.
To illustrate the necessity for such a change, the Ombudsman pointed to the tragic case of Awaab Ishak. He said that it “underlines the urgent need for Awaab’s Law,” highlighting the necessity of taking action at speed against mould in social housing.
Homes with inadequate ventilation or existing water damage are particularly susceptible to mould growth, and experts agree that proper cleaning and maintenance can prevent these problems from developing. The legislation takes aim at today’s biggest problems, directly and unequivocally. It further takes steps to avoid future ones by being proactive and reducing the chance of them happening again.
