August 2024

In December 2020, Awaab Ishak tragically passed away shortly after his second birthday. The coroner concluded that this young boy's death was caused by a severe respiratory condition resulting from prolonged exposure to mould in his home, which had not been addressed or prevented. 

Since then, Awaab’s family, with the support of Shelter, has advocated for the introduction of 'Awaab’s Law'. 

The tragic loss of Awaab highlights the dire conditions many THEU members and our families endure, with widespread damp and mould in our homes. Recently, Lambeth's cabinet lead for Housing acknowledged that there are four serious, life-threatening hazards on our estate that Lambeth Council have known about for over a year with no action taken. 

We are calling for transparency and immediate action to prevent a tragedy like Awaab's from happening on our estate. 

The Centre for London reports that this proposed legislation would require social housing landlords (like Lambeth) to: 

• Investigate hazards within 14 calendar days. See the appendix on this page for a full list of hazards. 

• Provide a written report of the investigation within the 14-day timeframe, including details of the hazard, next steps, and a clear timeline for necessary repairs. 

• Begin repair work within 7 days if the hazard poses a significant risk to tenants' health or safety. A doctor's note will not be required to determine significant risk, as the government aims to reduce NHS waiting times. Hazards will be classified as 'significant' based on government guidelines that consider factors like the severity of the issue and the tenants' age and vulnerability. 

• Complete repairs within a 'reasonable time period'. The work must be done satisfactorily within a reasonable timeframe, in accordance with the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. 

• Complete emergency repairs within 24 hours. Social housing landlords must start emergency repairs as soon as possible and no later than 24 hours after identifying the issue. 

• Provide alternative accommodation if repairs cannot be completed. If emergency repairs for hazards posing imminent or significant risk to tenants cannot be completed within the specified timeframes, landlords must arrange suitable alternative housing for the tenants. 

• Maintain clear records of all communications with residents and contractors, including all discussions related to the issue and communications with contractors. 

By explicitly including damp and mould in the Decent Homes Standards, this law represents a crucial step toward ensuring residents have the power to secure safe and decent housing. 

However, for neighbours on Tulse Hill Estate, the pressing question is whether this law will be enacted in time to benefit us. Currently, Lambeth falls woefully short of meeting these standards, and the necessary repairs to address life-threatening hazards cannot come soon enough.