Town hall chiefs insist they are holding an under-fire housing association to account after a Manchester Evening News investigation into conditions on a Rochdale estate. Two-year-old Awaab Ishak died in December 2020 after living in a property affected by damp and mould on the Freehold estate.
Tragic details of the toddler's death have only emerged this summer as Rochdale Coroners' Court prepares for Awaab's inquest in November. Awaab's post-mortem established a medical link between the conditions he was breathing in and his death, just days after his second birthday, the court heard in June.
The M.E.N. has since uncovered similar conditions affecting families on Freehold, an estate run by social landlord Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH), more than 18 months since Awaab's death. They include families with children who have previously been rushed to hospital for breathing issues, as well as some with GPs who wrote with concerns about the condition of their homes.
READ MORE into the MEN's investigation:
A two-year-old is dead and other children are struggling to breathe
A forgotten child in the Greater Manchester flats that are full of fear
Following the investigation, politicians have expressed shock at the situation, while M.E.N. readers have also voiced their anger. Last Tuesday (August 16), the M.E.N. asked Rochdale Council for an interview with its leader, Coun Neil Emmott, about Awaab's death and the findings of the Freehold investigation.
The request was turned down. This week, the council confirmed Coun Emmott would not be put forward for interview on the subject while Awaab's inquest remains ongoing at Rochdale Coroners' Court, but insisted discussions are taking place with RBH to make sure 'standards are upheld' following the M.E.N. 's investigation.
In a statement, a Rochdale Council spokesperson said: “Although we are extremely saddened by this case we are unable to comment further while the matter is being investigated by the coroner. We are, though, in discussion with the owner of the properties concerned, RBH, about the issues that have been highlighted in relation to properties that were transferred to them in 2012.
"As a council we are committed to ensuring that housing standards are upheld and we regularly investigate complaints on behalf of tenants. If anyone has any concerns about their accommodation these should be reported to their landlord in the first instance but unsafe living standards can also be reported to our strategic housing service and the housing ombudsman.”
Coun Danny Meredith, the council's cabinet member for highways and housing, has also suggested steps are being taken to hold RBH to account. In a tweet earlier today (August 23), he wrote: "I have had a meeting with Strategy Housing at Rochdale Council... A formal letter has been sent to RBH asking questions about concerns on Freehold Estate."
Following the M.E.N. 's investigation, RBH also expressed its sympathy for Awaab's family and confirmed it would inspect all homes on Freehold. It pointed out it had invested £175 million into its properties since taking on Rochdale's social housing stock in 2012.
Gareth Swarbrick, chief executive, added: "We are saddened to hear about the issues raised by residents in this piece. We have made direct contact with all the residents to look at how we can support them and to ensure their homes are at the standard we would wish to see."
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