In the wake of Awaab Ishak's tragic death, tens of thousands of people said 'never again'. More than 177,000 signed a change.org petition launched by the Manchester Evening News, demanding a law change in the two-year-old's memory.
Little Awaab died in December 2020 following prolonged exposure to mould in a Rochdale social flat, on the same estate where the M.E.N. revealed other families were suffering with similar housing conditions. Today (June 27), the voices of those who backed our call for change will be heard loud and clear, as the Awaab's Law petition is delivered on Downing Street.
A total of 177,588 people had backed the petition as of 6pm yesterday. The numbers swelled in the first few weeks of the campaign, following Awaab's inquest at Rochdale Coroners Court last November.
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But support has continued to grow ever since, with dozens still adding their names to the petition each week. Their collective call for change will be delivered to Westminster as the M.E.N. urges lawmakers to get the proposed law changes on the statute books as quickly as possible.
The delivery comes as the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill reaches the final stage in Parliament this afternoon. After amendments meeting the demands of the Awaab's Law campaign were included earlier this year, the Bill returns to the House of Lords, for the final hurdle before it can be given Royal Assent.
Awaab's Law will mean social landlords have to follow strict timeframes to inspect cases of damp and mould, and carry out urgent repairs. Those timeframes will be set following a consultation period, expected to take place later this year.
New legislation will also ensure clear information is provided to tenants on their rights, allow for Ofsted-style inspections of housing associations, and require housing managers to take professional qualifications - a demand set by Grenfell United during extensive campaigning. Separately, clear guidance on damp and mould as a health hazard is being issued to the housing sector.
North Manchester coroner Joanne Kearsley described Awaab's death as a 'defining moment' for the housing sector. The campaign for Awaab's Law, run by the M.E.N. with the support of Shelter and the backing of Greater Manchester MPs, has meant that the social housing sector will never be able to forget Awaab.
Those who backed the campaign shared their anger at how Awaab's death came to be, in messages posted on change.org. Petronella Davis wrote: "The death of this gorgeous child was avoidable... the law must be strengthened to support tenants."
Sylvia Brobby said: "No child should have to live or die in inadequate social housing. There should be a legal standard of what constitutes habitable living.
"This poor child... was failed. Let's ensure it does not happen again."
Feisal Eissa added: "Damp and mould in social housing needs to be treated as a serious threat to health. Awaab's death as a result is completely unacceptable."
The M.E.N. is due to be joined by representatives of Awaab's family, change.org and Shelter in Westminster later today. Following a meeting with housing secretary Michael Gove in February, Awaab's dad Faisal Abdullah thanked those who had given his family support.
He said: "We would like to express our thanks to Michael Gove and his team for listening to us and doing the right thing. My wife and I still struggle to deal with the loss of our son, but we are finally starting to feel like we are being treated fairly.
"We hope that Awaab's Law will help stop any other family going through the pain we have gone through. We would not wish this pain on anybody.
"I want to thank my close friends and family who stood by us and offered support. Especially, I want to thank Faisal and Moraud who have been with me through every step of this journey.
"I also want to thank the Manchester Evening News and Shelter for their support. Without my legal team we would not have achieved what we have so far.
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"I want to thank Kelly and Alice from Farley's solicitors, and my barrister Christian Weaver of Garden Court North Chambers. They got justice for me in court, and helped me campaign too.
"Finally I want to end by thanking the public for helping us get Awaab's Law. Your support has stopped us feeling alone during this hard time. Thank you."
