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Almost five years ago, a Rochdale toddler died due to prolonged exposure to mould at the social flat his parents rented. Awaab Ishak was only two years old when his life was cruelly cut short. And little did his family know, many of their neighbours were suffering with the same problem in their homes . The tragedy sparked a wave of anger and inspired a rallying call for meaningful change. That change comes into being today (October 27). Awaab's Law brings a raft of new protections for tenants living in social housing across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE The Manchester Evening News campaigned for the new law alongside Shelter, Change.org and Awaab's family in order to secure the toddler's legacy. More than 177,000 M.E.N. readers, plus Greater Manchester MPs, supported our call for change to ensure no other family has to face the same tragic circumstances that Awaab's did. Now, social landlords - including councils and housing associations - will have to follow strict time limits to inspect and repair hazards such as damp and mould. If they fail to comply with the new rules, the landlords can be taken to court. Little Awaab died on December 21, 2020, eight days on from his second birthday. Throughout his short life, Awaab was exposed to harmful mould inside the flat his family rented from Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH). The toddler suffered recurring cold symptoms and respiratory tract infections. Awaab's father, Faisal Abdullah, came to the UK from Sudan in 2016 at a time his home country was hit by civil war. His wife, Aisha Amin, followed in 2017. The couple hadn't experienced mould in their home before they noticed black spores appearing inside their flat on Freehold in 2017, more than a year before Awaab was born. Mr Abdullah asked RBH staff for advice on how to deal with it and was told to simply 'paint over it'. He did what he was told, believing he was doing the right thing, but he had been given bad advice. The mould stubbornly reappeared in the flat over the next three years. Awaab's family tried to be rehoused and, in 2020, complained about their situation to both the landlord and a legal firm - yet no work was carried out prior to Awaab's death. Awaab's breathing difficulties worsened in the days before his death. His inquest ruled that he died as a result of a severe respiratory condition, caused due to prolonged exposure to mould at home. Coroner Joanne Kearsley concluded that a lack of effective ventilation at the flat had led to the substantial mould growth. She said RBH should have taken action in the months before Awaab died. Earlier that year, the Manchester Evening News spent weeks speaking to residents on the same estate. They shared stories of similar housing conditions, a lack of support from RBH and their children being rushed to see doctors with breathing difficulties. It was clear that more young lives were being put at risk by inaction. The M.E.N. launched a campaign for Awaab's Law to make that inaction a thing of the past, and the new legislation was voted through by MPs and Lords in 2023. From today, councils and social housing associations face new and legally-binding timeframes to act once they become aware of a potential hazard. Those hazards include damp and mould, gas leaks, broken boilers and loss of water supply. First, they must inspect the potential hazard within 10 working days, before providing a written summary of their findings - including a target completion date for repairs - to the tenant within three working days of an investigation, unless the problem is fixed sooner. If the hazard is considered a significant risk to the tenant's health and safety, the landlord must make the property safe within five working days. They must also begin any further required works and complete those works in a reasonable time period. If the hazard is considered an emergency, the landlord must begin repairs within 24 hours of the investigation. If the social landlord cannot carry out the work within those timeframes, they must provide suitable alternative accommodation until the repairs are completed. Should a tenant report a problem becoming worse following an initial investigation, the landlord must carry out a new investigation and the timescales under Awaab's Law reset. If a council or housing association fails to act in accordance with the new rules, tenants are encouraged to raise the issue with the Housing Ombudsman or Social Housing Regulator. Social landlords can also be taken to court, where they could be ordered to pay compensation to tenants for failure to abide by Awaab's Law, although guidance states this should be a last resort. Housing associations and councils must also consider the individual circumstances of tenants when investigating hazards, while the law states it is 'unacceptable' for social landlords to blame residents' 'lifestyle' for issues such as damp and mould. Awaab's Law will be expanded in two further phases in 2026 and 2027, when more hazards will be included. More details on the changes being introduced can be found here . When concluding Awaab's inquest in November 2022, coroner Joanne Kearsley described the case as a 'defining moment' for the housing sector. Awaab's Law received cross-party support following the M.E.N.'s campaign, having been voted through under the previous Conservative government and delivered under the current Labour one. Labour has also promised to extend Awaab's Law to the private rented sector - which makes up around a fifth of all properties in England. That promise should be delivered after the Renters' Rights Bill becomes an act of Parliament, with exact details on the introduction of Awaab's Law in the private sector yet to be confirmed. Months before it was publicly launched, the M.E.N. began to work with Shelter to discuss what a campaign for Awaab's Law could achieve, and the housing charity played a key role in advocating for the new legislation. The housing charity says Awaab's Law is a testament to the strength and determination of the toddler's parents - while it is urging the government not to delay in rolling out the legislation in full. Mairi MacRae, Director of Campaigns and Policy at Shelter, said: "Awaab Ishak's legacy must be a new era where no family has to endure appalling conditions in their home that put their lives at risk. Five years on from Awaab’s tragic death, we’re pleased these vital protections are starting to come into force. "For too long, families have put up with homes riddled with serious hazards like damp and mould, while their complaints go unanswered. These regulations set out clear legal timeframes for social landlords to investigate issues when tenants sound the alarm. They will also make it easier for tenants to take legal action if they don’t get a response. “The government must now fully and swiftly implement all phases of Awaab’s Law. To prevent further tragedies like the death of two-year-old Awaab, the second phase of the Act, which includes measures to improve fire safety, must be implemented by January 2026, with the remaining phase brought in by January 2027.” Senior figures from the housing sector have also welcomed the arrival of Awaab's Law. Gavin Smart, chief executive at the Chartered Institute of Housing, says it provides an 'important new framework' for social landlords, who he claims 'have new processes in place to respond to these new requirements'. Kate Henderson, chief executive of the National Housing Federation, says the new legislation puts 'housing associations on the sure footing needed to both continue investing in existing homes while having the confidence to build new ones'. But there are some concerns over how the new law will work in practice. Mark Slater, chair of the Rochdale Branch of Greater Manchester Tenants Union, says Awaab's avoidable death was a 'national disgrace' and welcomes the new timeframes for repairs. But he believes additional investment will be needed at the Housing Ombudsman to speed up its processes, while he fears legal action would be 'unaffordable to many' social housing tenants while restrictions are in place on legal aid. Mark added: "In order for Awaab’s Law to deliver the much needed improvements to conditions and timelines of repairs in social housing, there must be significant investment in additional legal aid provision, and increasing capacity at the Housing Ombudsman."
