A toddler’s death has been blamed on mould inside his family’s rented flat.
Awaab Ishak’s condition grew worse before he died four days before Christmas Day 2020. He was just two years old.
Medical report proves that Awaab died from a respiratory problem caused by his damp living conditions.
Awaab Ishak’s parents repeatedly complained to Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) about the state of their flat, which was described as unfit for human habitation.
But nothing was done to remedy the problem and in December 2020, Awaab, who had suffered from breathing problems, died from respiratory failure and cardiac arrest.
Mr Gove, the Housing Secretary, described it as an “unacceptable tragedy” and said he had summoned Gareth Swarbrick, the chief executive of RBH, to his department to explain himself.
He accused the housing association of ignoring the family’s concerns and hiding behind procedure, adding: “It beggars belief that this guy is still in office. He’s coming here in order to explain to me why it was that this tragedy was allowed to happen.”
In 2017, he had complained to RBH about a growing mould problem in the one bedroom flat, but had been told to paint over it.
The following year, Awaab was born and in June 2020 Mr Abudullah instructed a solicitor to take action over the recurring mould problem.
Delivering a narrative verdict, Joanne Kearsley, the Manchester North senior coroner, said the ventilation in the property had not been effective and that had been a contributing factor in the development of the mould.
