Family of toddler who died from damp and mould issue grave warning to Labour over new housing law

The family of a toddler who died after being exposed to damp and mould in his home have warned delays to Awaab’s Law could “cost lives”.

Awaab Ishak died in 2020 at the age of two and a coroner’s report in November 2022 found the mould conditions in his family’s Rochdale home contributed to his death.

Last week the Labour government laid out plans to introduce a law in his memory, named Awaab’s Law, forcing social housing landlords to fix hazards to stricter timeframes. It will later be extended to the private rented sector through the Renters’ Rights Bill.

But housing secretary Angela Rayner revealed a phased approach to introducing the law with measures to tackle damp and mould coming into force in October while other hazards will not be covered until 2027.

Faisal Abdullah and Aisha Amin, Awaab Ishak’s parents, criticised the decision.

“Awaab’s parents feel that the government has broken a promise – delaying the full implementation of Awaab’s Law despite committing to its introduction in the social housing sector by autumn last year,” they said in a statement released by the family’s instructing solicitor Kelly Darlington and barrister Christian Weaver, who was named a Big Issue Changemaker earlier this year.

“Given the delays that have already taken place, Awaab’s parents have little faith that these deadlines will be met – and nothing prevents further slippage. To them, this is not in keeping with the urgency of the issue.

They added: “Awaab’s parents are clear: these delays will cost lives.”

Rayner paid tribute to the campaigning from the tragic toddler’s parents last week “after they tenaciously and courageously fought to secure justice”.

The pair met with then-housing secretary Michael Gove following the inquest into their son’s death and joined with the Manchester Evening News and Shelter to campaign for a new law in his name.

The housing charity criticised the government’s decision to delay the full implementation of the bill last week, calling it a “real risk to the health and safety of tenants”.

But the reaction was mixed elsewhere.

Rachael Williamson, Chartered Institute of Housing‘s interim director of policy, communications and external affairs, said a phased approach will “provide social landlords with the time and clarity they need”.

Housing Ombudsman Richard Blakeway said social landlords have “made progress” since Awaab’s Law was first announced but the regulator “still repeatedly finds significant and preventable failings”.

Meanwhile, the Local Government Association’s housing spokesperson Adam Hug said councils would need “sufficient funding to mitigate the existing pressures on housing stock” to act on the new measures.

Rayner said the new laws will force landlords to “fix problems quickly so that people are safe in their homes and can be proud to live in social housing”.

• Awaab Ishak: Why Rochdale toddler’s death is being described as a ‘defining moment’
• Awaab Ishak: Toddler’s death from mould leads to record social housing complaints
• How the death of toddler Awaab Ishak inspired the creation of AI app to tackle damp and mould

But Awaab Ishak’s parents said that delays caught them by surprise.

“Awaab’s parents have approached this process in extremely good faith, recognising the complexity of legislative change and allowing the government time to introduce a robust, fair, and workable Awaab’s Law,” they added. 

“Out of respect for the process, they chose not to apply pressure, even after the autumn deadline was missed. They trusted that progress was being made. Never did they imagine such significant delays would follow. Until the day of the government’s announcement, they had received no prior indication of this.

“Their frustration is not for themselves, but for the thousands of families still trapped in unsafe homes – families they speak to every day. These families cannot afford to wait indefinitely for protections that should already be in place.

“They also remain deeply concerned that the government is yet to set out clear timeframes within which landlords must carry out repairs under Awaab’s Law – especially given its initial commitment to having the law ready by autumn last year.”

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