Social housing bosses will be required to study for qualifications as part of a drive to professionalise the sector in the wake Awaab Ishak's tragic death in a mouldy flat in Rochdale. Housing Secretary Michael Gove has announced the changes after recognising that social housing residents were being 'inexcusably let down'.
The Cabinet minister said the shift would 'drive up standards' across the board after Awaab's death. The toddler died in December 2020 from a respiratory condition caused by mould at his home on the Freehold estate.
The Manchester Evening News began campaigning for Awaab's Law, following the inquest into the two-year-old's death. Social landlord Rochdale Boroughwide Housing knew of the mould problem for several months before he died, but failed to act.
In response to his death, ministers have proposed that landlords will have to investigate and fix damp and mould in social housing within strict time limits under what would be known as Awaab's Law. On top of those reforms, Mr Gove on Sunday announced new rules that will mean around 25,000 managers across the sector will be required to have an appropriate level housing management qualification.
Managers must have a qualification that comes from a provider regulated by exams watchdog Ofqual and that is equivalent to a level 4 or 5 certificate or diploma in housing. Alternatively, they can have a foundation degree from the Chartered Institute of Housing.
The changes will be made through amendments to the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill, according to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Officials said the new requirements will professionalise and drive the 'culture change needed' in the sector.
They said ensuring managers have appropriate qualifications will bring social housing more closely into line with other sectors providing frontline services, including social work, teaching, and health and care services. Any landlord who fails to meet the new standards requirements could eventually receive an unlimited fine from the Regulator of Social Housing, the department said.
Mr Gove said: "The Grenfell Tower tragedy and, more recently, the death of Awaab Ishak showed the devastating consequences of residents inexcusably being let down by poor performing landlords who consistently failed to listen to them. We know that many social housing residents are not receiving the service or respect they deserve.
"The changes we are delivering today will make sure social housing managers across the country have the right skills and experience to deliver an excellent service and drive up standards across the board."
The Bill is the latest step in response to the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire, with the Fire Safety Act enacted and the Building Safety Act passed last year. As already announced by Mr Gove's department, the draft law will give the social housing regulator tough new powers, allowing it to enter properties with only 48 hours’ notice and make emergency repairs with landlords footing the bill.
The legislation is expected to return to Parliament on March 1. Gavin Smart, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Housing, said: "We welcome the Government's focus on and support for professionalism in housing. We believe housing professionals should do all they can to ensure that tenants and residents have access to good quality, affordable homes; that they are treated with dignity and respect; and that their voices and views are heard and taken account of in decisions that affect them.
"We look forward to working with Government to support organisations and individuals in achieving the qualifications needed under these new requirements."
On a visit to Manchester on Thursday (February 23), Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer hinted that his party's MPs would support the government amendment to get Awaab's Law on the statute books. He said: "Everybody, when we saw that case, was absolutely shocked. Of course we have to support whatever measures necessary to make sure that that doesn't happen again.
"I hark back to my previous life as a lawyer. I saw I don't know how many cases where I was representing people in rented accommodation who were putting up with damp and because we took action, the damp was abated for a bit, but nobody fixed the fundamentals and so we were back with other cases over and over again.
"That's why it has to be part of a mission-driven government to change this. We do support whatever measures necessary."
Speaking to the M.E.N. as he visited Rochdale earlier this month, Mr Gove said: "I want to thank Awaab's family. Nothing can make up for the loss of a child and their grief is unimaginable. But their bravery, their courage, has made a difference.
"As a result of their campaigning, and the M.E.N.' support for them, the law is changing. That means that tenants in social housing will have peace of mind if they are concerned about threats to their health or their family's health, that action will be taken."
