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As readers of the Manchester Evening News will know, Awaab Ishak’s death in 2020 was a tragedy for his family and a moment of shame for Britain. It is still unthinkable that a toddler could become ill and die because of damp and mould and that his parents’ concerns, raised over years, about their rented flat in Rochdale went ignored. This can never happen again. For Awaab, for his parents, Faisal Abdullah and Aisha Amin, and their incredible fight for justice, for the millions living in social housing who are being failed, things have to change. Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE Safety and decency - respect - should be the bare minimum for everyone, no matter where you live. From today, we’re taking a big step towards that and transformative and lasting change for standards in social housing with the first phase of a new law introduced in Awaab’s name coming into force. This means that social landlords will have to fix dangerous homes or face the full force of law. As a result, if you’re a tenant living in social housing you’ll be able to demand that your landlord fixes and makes safe emergency hazards in your home within 24 hours. Not next week, not next month - within a day. From now on landlords will have to investigate dangerous damp and mould within 10 working days and make it safe within five. And if they can't make homes safe within these timeframes, they must provide alternative accommodation for tenants straight away. Most landlords do right by their tenants, but those who don’t will face the courts. No more excuses. This is just the start. From next month, new electrical safety regulations will force social landlords to carry out safety checks every five years and inspect all appliances they provide. And over the next two years, Awaab's Law will be extended to cover other safety issues such as excess cold and heat and fire risks. We know that millions in the private rented sector are also living in unacceptable conditions. So, we’ll extend Awaab’s Law to them too through our Renters' Rights Bill - and will consult on how to do so in a way that works for the sector. This government promised we’d get a better deal for millions of families who are renting, across the board, and we’re taking action. And I want to pay tribute to Awaab’s parents, who have fought so hard not just for their son, but for everyone living in social housing, and the Manchester Evening News for championing this vital cause. We hope these measures will be a fitting legacy that honours Awaab’s life and so no other child, no other family, has to go through anything like this again. This isn’t just about safety and decency, but also about respect and a stronger voice for social housing tenants. That’s why we’re also launching a new £1 million fund to find new ways that help tenants engage with their landlords and have more influence over decisions that affect them. It’s why we’re investing a record £39 billion to provide the biggest boost for social and affordable housing in a generation as part of our plans to build 1.5 million new homes. It’s time to put the key to a safe, decent home into the hands of every single family that needs it, together with the respect they’re owed. Today, with Awaab’s Law coming in and putting more power into the hands of millions renting, we’re taking a big step towards this.
