Housing Association ‘are modern day slum lords’, says MP Chris Clarkson

Heywood and Middleton MP Chris Clarkson

The MP for Heywood and Middleton called Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) ‘modern day slum lords’ after their heavy criticism for their standards of social housing in the wake of two-year-old Awaab Ishak’s death.

A coroner concluded on Wednesday that Awaab died from a respiratory condition caused by mould, and Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) did nothing to solve the issue.

The mother, who asked not to be named, said she complained to RBH for three years, but it had not fixed the issue.

Conservative Chris Clarkson said he has been sent photographs from a house in his constituency ‘caked in black mould and rising damp’, showing this ‘is not an isolated incident’.

This comes as a number of MPs provide support for a newspaper campaign for a new law in the two-year-old’s memory to ensure a tragedy like it never happens again.

The petition for Awaab’s law hopes to prevent any more children dying from damp and mouldy social housing.

“This is not an isolated incident,” Mr Clarkson said.

“Just this week I was sent photographs of a house in Middleton with its walls caked in black mould and rising damp.

"That is an RBH property and my constituent sent me a copy of her doctor’s note saying she and her children are now severely ill because of these conditions.

“RBH are modern-day slumlords.”

He called on ministers to instigate a “root-and-branch investigation”, adding: “Can I ask that if he agrees with me that when the director is claiming £157,000 in earnings that he must bear full responsibility for what has happened?”

The Communities Secretary replied: “He is absolutely right that the leadership of RBH have presided over a terrible situation in his constituency. Action does need to be taken.

“He is absolutely right that we need to make sure that all of the tools at our disposal are used to investigate what went on and to hold those accountable.

“He is also right to say that individuals who earn well in excess of what our Prime Minister earns and who have responsibility for 12,500 homes should take the consequences of these actions.”

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