Awaab Ishak: Toddler's mould death is unacceptable says government minister

The decease of a toddler aft helium faced months of surviving with mould successful his location is an "unacceptable tragedy", the lodging caput has said.

His begetter repeatedly raised the contented with Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) but nary enactment was taken.

Housing Secretary Michael Gove said it "beggars belief" that RBH's main enforcement is inactive successful his job.

Coroner Joanne Kearsley had besides criticised RBH for not being "proactive".

She said: "How successful the UK successful 2020 does a two-year-old kid dice arsenic a effect of vulnerability to mould?"

Two-year-old Awaab died successful December 2020 pursuing a cardiac apprehension aft surviving successful the damp one-bedroom level successful Rochdale, Greater Manchester.

His begetter Faisal Abdullah had complained astir the mould but said the household had been "left feeling perfectly worthless astatine the hands of RBH".

Mr Gove said section authorities and lodging associations could not blasted a deficiency of authorities backing for the child's death.

"We each cognize that section authorities are facing challenging times erstwhile it comes to concern but, frankly, that is nary excuse," helium said.

"When you person got a concern wherever you person a young kid successful a location that is unfit for quality habitation, it is simply a basal work of the section authorization - but peculiarly the lodging relation - to marque definite that radical are successful decent homes.

"All this what-aboutery, each this 'Oh, if lone we had much authorities money' - bash your job, man."

Mr Gove said helium has summoned the caput of the lodging relation acrophobic to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

The curate said the authorities is bringing guardant authorities to guarantee lodging associations liable for providing societal lodging are "held to account".

RBH's main enforcement Gareth Swarbrick, said Awaab's decease should beryllium a "wake-up telephone for everyone successful housing, societal attraction and health".

He said: "We didn't recognise the level of hazard to a small boy's wellness from the mould successful the family's home. "

The lodging brag added: "We indispensable marque definite this tin ne'er hap again."