Housing Disrepair

Two-year-old Awaab Ishak Died Due to Mould in a Flat

Posted on by newtvconnections@gmail.com
Two year Awaab Ishak Died Due to Mould in a Flat
25
Nov

The inquiry concluded that a two-year-old boy, Awaab Ishak, died as a result of widespread mould in his “social housing” flat. He died on 21st December 2020 and his family lived on the freehold estate in Rochdale.

Awaab was admitted to the hospital on 19th December that year and was discharged the next morning. He returned to the hospital the next day where his condition worsened and suffered a cardiac arrest brought on by respiratory failure.

The coroner found that he met with death as a result of severe respiratory syndrome due to prolonged mould exposure just a few days before Christmas 2020, and after his second birthday. The landlord ignored their complaints and failed to rectify, repair or treat mould.

Awaab father, Faisal Abdullah, who came to the UK in 2015 as an asylum-seeking from Sudan, claims that when Awaab became ill in his house, he felt ‘completely trapped.’ Mr. Abdullah had repeatedly complained about damp and mould to his landlord, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) from 2017.

However, RBH refused to take action and he was told repeatedly to paint over it. In 2020, the RBH was once again informed about the problem, but nothing was done to stop the mould. The family pleaded with doctors and residential owners for help because Awaab had difficulty breathing.

After six days of evidence in the Rochdale Coroners Court, Coroner Joanne Kearsley on 15th November 2022, concluded that the medical advice given to Awaab’s family She said: “I am sure I am not alone in asking how does this does happen? How in the UK in 2020 does a two-year-old child die from exposure to mould in his home”. The coroner further commented that “The tragic death of Awaab will and should be a defining moment for the housing sector in terms of increasing knowledge, increasing awareness and a deepening of understanding surrounding the issue of damp and mould.”

After the inquiry, Awaab’s family said, “We still cannot get our head around the fact that despite all of the complaints we made to RBH, in addition to the information RBH received from an NHS member of staff expressing their concern for Awaab due to mould at the property, RBH did absolutely nothing to rectify the severe mould in our property.”

They also said, ‘We cannot tell you how many health professionals we’ve cried in front and RBH staff we have pleaded to express concern for the conditions ourselves and Awaab have been living in. We shouted out as loudly as we could, but despite making all of those efforts, every night we would be coming back to the same problem. Nothing was changing.”

They went on to say that “Awaab’s coughing fits would sometimes last two to three days. There were days we wouldn’t be able to take Awaab out of the house because of how bad his coughing was – but of course, his staying in the house, made his coughing worse.

We were absolutely trapped” They had a message for RBH “stop discriminating, stop being racist, stop providing unfair treatment to people coming from abroad who are refugees or asylum seekers, stop housing people in homes you know are unfit for human habitation. We were left feeling absolutely worthless at the hands of RBH.”

Awaab Ishak family statement

Awaab’s parents, Faisal Abdullah and Aisha Amin came to the UK from Sudan for better living. If you have been affected by this article and are in a similar situation then please contact our specialist housing disrepair solicitors.

Our Solicitors work nationally and are specialists in forcing landlords to carry out the work and getting you compensation for the inconvenience caused to you and your health. There are laws that should protect people like Awaab who are living in social or council housing but the reality is there are far too many living in the same conditions as Awaab did and their social or council housing landlords are not doing anything about it or taking complaints seriously.

We have heard that the main response from RBH was that the damp and mould were caused by the “tenant’s lifestyle”, which means they have caused the health issues themselves by creating excessive moisture inside the property by doing things like drying clothes indoors, showering and bathing and having many people living in the property where they breathe out moisture.

The theory is that all of that creates moisture in the atmosphere and RBH is saying that Awaab’s family should have used the heating more and opened the windows more to remove the moisture.

Unfortunately, this “tenant’s lifestyle” defence is used time and time again when a claim is made against social and council housing landlords and tenants need a Solicitor who can help fight that argument. If you are faced with these issues contact SLS Solicitors at 01616975959 or email us at info@slssoliictors.co.uk.

We have many clients who have been complaining to their landlords for years and nothing gets done. They then feel the need to reach out to Solicitors to help them make a claim and only then do the landlords take action. This is unacceptable as the landlords should not let it get that far to the point of desperation.

We agree with the Coroner and take damp and mould very seriously, on these cases we send out an expert surveyor for free to your home immediately to carry out an inspection of your home and provide us with a report, we work on a no-win no fee policy so it won’t cost you a penny to start your disrepair claim today.

A housing disrepair claim is a claim against your landlord for not carrying out repairs to your home as part of their obligation within your tenancy agreement. Sections 9 to 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (LTA85) set out their obligation and confirm the implied terms which they are not allowed to contract out from. This means if repair is the Landlord’s obligation, they have to do it.  If you are unsure call SLS Solicitors at 01616975959 or email us at info@slssoliictors.co.uk. The most common disrepair your landlord is obliged to repair are:

  • Damp/Mould
  • Faulty Windows/Doors
  • Water leak
  • Roof issues
  • Structural Cracks
  • Heating issues
  • Electrical issues
  • Unfit for human habitation
  • Sanitary issues
  • Pointing/rendering issues
  • Extractor fans
  • Plasterwork
  • Insect/Vermin issues

If your landlord is refusing to carry out work, you may be able to claim Thousands in compensation for the inconvenience caused by any exacerbation to your health and loss of belongings. If your health has severely been affected you may be eligible to start a personal injury claim. Call us at 01616975959 or email us at info@slssoliictors.co.uk

newtvconnections@gmail.com

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Damp and mould can cause serious health and structural problems in a property. If your landlord is responsible for fixing the issue and they have failed to do so, you may be entitled to compensation.

Document the issue, make a claim to your landlord or the courts, and get our experts advice. Your landlord is responsible for providing a safe and habitable living environment, and compensation may be due if they have failed in this obligation.

If you are a tenant and experiencing leaks in the ceiling, roof or tiles, it is likely that your landlord is responsible for fixing the issue. A leaking roof or ceiling can cause significant damage to a property, including water damage, mould growth, and even structural damage. If your landlord has failed to address the issue and you have suffered loss or damage as a result, you may be entitled to compensation.

To claim compensation, you should document the issue, including any damage or loss you have suffered, and take photos or videos to demonstrate the extent of the problem. You can then make a claim to your landlord or the courts.

Living in a property with structural defects can be a serious safety risk. If you are a tenant in social housing and your landlord has neglected to repair such defects, resulting in an unsafe or unhealthy living environment, we are here to assist you.

Our team of housing disrepair specialists can help you claim for the necessary repairs and compensation if your landlord has failed to address the structural defects even after being notified of the issue.

We operate on a no win, no fee basis for all social housing disrepair claims, ensuring that you have access to legal assistance without incurring any upfront costs.

If you are experiencing disrepair issues in your home, don't hesitate to reach out to us to see if we can help.

Under the law, your landlord is responsible for ensuring that your rental property is properly maintained. This includes addressing any pest or vermin infestations that may arise, as these can pose serious health and safety risks.

In some cases, the landlord may be held liable for the infestation if it was caused by a pre-existing disrepair issue, such as a hole in the building that the landlord failed to repair. However, if the vermin were present when you moved into the property, the responsibility may fall on you as the tenant.

It's crucial to report any pest or vermin issues to your landlord as soon as possible and to keep detailed records of all communication regarding the matter. This includes any letters, texts, or emails exchanged between you and your landlord, as well as notes from any phone or in-person conversations. Gathering photographic evidence of the infestation can also strengthen your case.

Remember that as a tenant, you have the right to a safe and habitable living space, and your landlord is obligated to take action to address any issues that may arise.

As a tenant, you have the right to expect that your landlord will keep the heating and hot water system in good condition. This includes ensuring that the boiler is checked regularly and a gas safety certificate is produced at least once a year.

If you report a fault with the heating or hot water and you are left without either, your landlord is expected to rectify the problem within a reasonable timeframe, typically within a few days. Failure to do so could result in you being entitled to compensation for any inconvenience caused by your landlord's failure to comply with their legal obligations.

In addition to claiming compensation for any inconvenience, you may also be able to claim for any additional costs incurred as a result of the disrepair. For example, if you have to spend extra money on heating due to the faulty system, you may be able to claim this back from your landlord.

It is important to remember that as a tenant, you have certain rights and responsibilities, and your landlord has a legal obligation to ensure that the property is kept in a safe and habitable condition. If you have any concerns about the condition of your heating or hot water system, you should contact your landlord immediately.

Poorly maintained home can cause physical or mental health issue to you and your family. The Disrepair can cause a direct injury, a direct health issue or exacerbate an ongoing condition. A gas leak, water leak, mould, damp, a broken step or a vermin/ mice infestation are all examples of disrepair that can cause health issues to you and your family . If you or members of your family have suffered from any health issues as a direct result of the poor conditions in your home, we want to help you.

You deserve to be happy and healthy in the place that you live, your health is paramount and at times you may not be sure if your health is affected, Our experts can help.