Death of Awab Isaac: Housing Rochdale Chair to resign after damning report | social housing

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The boss of a social housing landlord is set to resign after an investigation found he left hundreds of tenants exposed to harmful damp for nearly two years after an infant died of respiratory failure in one of his mold-infested homes.

The Social Housing Regulatory Authority concluded Thursday that Rochdale Borough of Housing (RBH) waited nearly two years after Awab Isaac’s death to check other homes on the property. When that happened, he found hundreds of tenants living with dampness and mold.

Minutes after the “unacceptable” behavior was announced, news broke that head owner Allison Tomelty had resigned and would be replaced next year. The move follows mounting pressure from Michael Gove, the foreign minister for settlement, housing and communities, and comes three weeks after Oab’s parents called for him to leave the board, describing them as a “danger” to residents.

RBH CEO Gareth Swarbrick was initially supported by the board but was sacked after a public outcry when the owner blamed “lifestyle issues”.

New figures show that 3.4 million homes in England failed to meet the ‘decent homes standard’ in 2021 and that 4% of social rented accommodation – around 164,000 – was affected by damp. The problem is worse in private rented homes, where more than 10% are damp – 473,000 homes, according to the Government’s England Housing Survey 2021-22 – and 23% fail to meet standards for decent homes.

When the RBH eventually inspected the estate after Awaab’s death, it found that hundreds of tenants had been living with dampness and mold causing “damage”. Roughly 80% of the tenants in the complex where Awab lives whose properties have been surveyed since this summer have shown signs of dampness and mold that RBH was previously unaware of.

A coroner concluded last month that Awab had died as a result of prolonged exposure to mold in his family’s flat in Rochdale.

Fiona MacGregor, chief executive of the social housing regulator, said her investigation had revealed “significant failures in the way RBH manages damp and mold in its homes, resulting in harm to tenants”.

“The tragic death of Obab Isaac should have prompted action to identify a greater risk, but RBH has failed to respond quickly or effectively,” she said. “This is unacceptable. RBH needs to address the issues we found and we will take further action if they fail to do so.

“Our ruling sends a clear message to social landlords that they must treat damp and mold as serious dangers, treat their tenants with respect, and take their concerns seriously.”

Gove said he would continue to withhold £1 million in government funding from the RBH and said he was planning legislation to “take urgent action when people complain of damp and mold”.

“This is not just a problem in Rochdale,” he said. “It is clear from today’s English Housing Survey that there are very serious problems with the quality of homes in this country.”

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He told the landlords, “Take over your homes and make improvements now.”

“We must honor the memory of Awab, so I am looking for new measures – including legislation – that would go so far as to provide urgent action when people complain of damp and mold, and ensure that the rights of tenants are respected. There is a consensus across the country that That landlords must do better. Let RBH be a warning: I will use every force at my disposal to ensure that people have good quality homes and are treated with dignity and respect.”

RBH reiterated its apology for the failure of “Awaab, his family and the community we serve” and said he accepted the regulator’s ruling. A spokesperson said her “new moisture and mold task force” had sped up repair work and a £1.2m program to improve ventilation was underway at the property where Oab lives.

They said, “There are hard lessons to be learned: Operation must not get in the way of people; the tenant’s voice must always be valued; maintenance and renovation of property must be prioritized; tenant safety must always be the first and foremost consideration.”

This article has been modified on December 15, 2022. Due to incorrect information provided by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, it has been previously stated in the text and headline that all RBH board members must step down, not just its Chairman.

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