THEIR COURAGE HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE

GOVE SALUTES FAMILY OF BOY WHO DIED INMOULD TRAGEDY AS HE MEETS THEM TO DISCUSS CHANGES THAT WILL SEE AWAAB'S LAW BECOME REALITY

- By STEPHEN TOPPING

MICHAEL Gove says social housing tenants should get 'peace of mind' as Awaab's Law becomes a reality.

The housing secretary met with Awaab Ishak's family in Rochdale yesterday to discuss plans to change the law in the toddler's memory.

Awaab died aged just two in December 2020 following prolonged exposure to mould. The M.E.N. has been calling for Awaab's Law over recent months, and now the government is amending a Bill in Parliament to meet much of the campaign's demands.

"I want to thank Awaab's family," Mr Gove told the M.E.N. "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's 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.

"This government is absolutely committed to saying - if you are renting, if you're a social tenant or in the private rented sector, we are on your side in making sure that your home, which should always be warm, safe and decent - will be improved under this government." An inquest into Awaab's death last November heard that a worker at social landlord Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) first told Awaab's father, Faisal Abdullah, to 'paint over' the mould at the property in autumn 2017. The family escalated their concerns in 2020 with a legal claim against the social landlord, and RBH accepted it should have intervened before Awaab's death.

Awaab's Law will set time limits for reports of damp and mould to be inspected and repaired in social properties, so families will not feel as helpless as Awaab's did before his death.

"You can never be confident that you will avoid all tragedies in the future," Mr Gove said.