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.

Conservative Chris Clarkson said he has been sent pictures from a house in his constituency.

“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.”

Awaab Ishak died at the Royal Oldham Hospital in December 2020 from a respiratory condition caused by mould in the one-bedroom housing association flat where he lived with parents Faisal Abdullah and Aisha Aminin in Rochdale.

Mr Abdullah had previously complained to RBH about the mould, an inquest at Rochdale Coroner's Court was told.

 

A photo issued by Farleys Solicitors of two-year-old Awaab Ishak who died in December 2020 (Picture: PA)

A photo issued by Farleys Solicitors of two-year-old Awaab Ishak who died in December 2020 (Picture: PA)

 

Giving her findings on Tuesday, senior coroner Joanne Kearsley said: "I'm sure I'm not alone in having thought, 'How does this happen? How, in the UK in 2020, does a two-year-old child die from exposure to mould in his home?'

"The tragic death of Awaab will and should be a defining moment for the housing sector in terms of increasing knowledge, increasing awareness and a deepening of understanding surrounding the issue of damp and mould."