Manchester Evening News has reported how a 2-year-old boy has sadly passed away due to the unresolved disrepairs within the family home
Awaab Ishak had just turned two when his rancid living conditions led to his death. Complaints were made by the family on multiple occasions, including before Awaab was born, and they even requested to be rehoused in 2019 but this request was not fulfilled by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing. In his short, Awaab visited the hospital, and GP and was treated by a neurologist for several respiratory tract infections. A health visitor also raised safeguarding issues about the state of the property in July 2020, 5 months before Awaab’s passing. No efforts were made to improve the property.
Six more households on the Freehold estate reported having housing disrepair issues, including three who claimed their children have been hospitalised with breathing difficulties due to disrepairs. One of these families, Vilma Lavres & Amanyllo Alfonso live with their two young children, Gabriel & Laura. Both children have suffered from breathing difficulties, with Gabriel being hospitalised for a week at 4 months old with Bronchiolitis. RBH suggested keeping windows open and has repeatedly painted over the month but has not resolved the issue.
In response to the M.E.N, RBH said “We carried out mould treatment works in this three-bedroom home in November 2020 and installed a Positive Input Ventilation unit in Jan 2021.
“We have carried out a number of repairs to the home including a central heating boiler repair in February 2022, as the one repair the family have raised with us in the last 12 months.”
“We have not received any further reports of damp and mould at this home since the work carried out in January 2021. We have reached out to Vilma and Amanyllo in order to gain access to the home urgently to carry out a new inspection and to see how we can support the family and their housing need.”
Families on the estate have also made attempts to move to a different property but were told they were not a priority and have been forced to suffer in the conditions they face.
After the M.E.N investigation, RBH who took over the council homes in 2012, claimed they will look at all properties on the Freehold estate to review the conditions.
Antony Hodari solicitors collaborate with clients across the country who are dealing with housing disrepair issues. Stephen Lord, CEO of the law firm said that the use of anti-mould paint and treatment by Housing Associations is ‘not going to cure’ damp issues. “Corners are cut by everybody but there’s a limit to how long that can go on,” said Stephen. “I think we are now seeing the results of that underinvestment and growth in demand for social housing and a massive shortage of it.”
Chief Executive of RBH, Mr. Swarbrick has said “We continue to extend our condolences to the Abdullah family. We commissioned an independent investigation immediately following the death of Awaab Ishak, which is with the coroner.
“Further details have been provided about the repair history of this home as well as repairs that we have carried out to neighbouring homes, as requested by the coroner. This is a complex and ongoing case involving a number of agencies and we are legally unable to comment further at this time.”
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