Experts say Awaab Ishak's mould-hit home should have had better ventilation - with a surveyor telling his inquest the flat was 'unfit for human habitation' without repairs. The toddler died aged two on December 21, 2020, with mould given as the 'most plausible, or only explanation' for the fatal breathing conditions that led to his death, Rochdale Coroners Court had previously heard.
This morning (November 10), the court heard evidence from two experts who visited the property on Rochdale's Freehold estate - owned and managed by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) - before and after Awaab's death. Daniel McVey, building surveyor at Rochdale Council, carried out an inspection at the property on December 23, 2020, on the request of Greater Manchester Police.
The court heard that Mr McVey recommended a 'suitable fan' was installed in both the bathroom and kitchen, as well as a 'positive ventilation unit' for the property that would be 'more effective than a stand alone fan'. He also recommended that repairs were carried out to the property, with mould found in the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom cupboard.
"It has to be expected that a property has to be lived in," Mr McVey said. "We determine what is typical and what is excess, and I found no evidence of excess lifestyle... I don't see cooking and showering as excess."
Asked by the family's barrister Christian Weaver whether the flat was 'unfit for human habitation', Mr McVey replied: "Without repairs, yes." The court also heard evidence from Andrew Foster, a technical inspector at RBH, who visited the property on November 20, 2020.
He visited the flat alongside a plumber due to a leak being reported in the property below. He also tested the extractor fan, which he found to be 'working, but very poorly'. Mr Foster added: "It was just very slow... it was not really sufficient for the property."
Mr Foster recommended that a survey was carried out with a view to replacing the bathroom fan and installing a kitchen fan, as well as a 'positive ventilation unit', just as Mc McVey would recommend after Awaab's death. However, the housing association did not carry out any work to the property following Mr Foster's visit, because of the policy to wait for approval from the solicitors dealing with the disrepair claim lodged in June 2020.
The court previously heard Anthony Hodari solicitors had dropped the case brought about by Awaab's father, Faisal Abdullah, in September 2020 but no contact was made about this to RBH. The housing association admits it did not carry out any further work at this time, and says it should have done so, having legal power to carry out the work as landlord.
Mr Foster had measured humidity at the property as 90%, although Awaab's mum Aisha Amin had been cooking at the time. He told the court he found no evidence of leaks in their bathroom, but did see 'excess water' on the floor and a 'saturated' bath panel, which he believed was due to bathing habits.
He told court he did not see issues with the toilet, but Mr McVey found the system had been 'overflowing'. Mr Foster claimed he saw a green object in the bath which he believed was a 'sort of bucket' used with bathing.
He claimed he did not know that Awaab was living in the property at the time. Asked by coroner Joanne Kearsley if knowing he was there would change his view on what the item may have been, Mr Foster said: "It could possibly."
Asked if he was aware of 'cultural' bathing habits possibly contributing to damp and mould, Mr McVey told court he was not, and he did not recall seeing a 'bucket'. Under questioning from RBH's barrister Malcolm Galloway, he did accept that excess water on the floor could come from a 'shower or bath'.
On the first day of evidence at court, Awaab's dad Mr Abdullah said his family only took showers. The bathroom did not have a fitted shower screen, the court has since heard. Proceeding.
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