The tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in 2020 should never have happened. Awaab’s case, which resulted from prolonged mould exposure in his family’s rented social home, made it clear that more needs to be done to avoid such a preventable death from occurring again.
In the ongoing battle against mould, the housing sector has largely fallen short. To ensure healthy homes for all, a paradigm shift was needed – one driven by innovation, empathy and communication. By introducing Awaab’s Law, the UK government has taken the necessary steps to ensure residents’ concerns are taken seriously and addressed. This landmark legislation, born out of a distressing tragedy, represents the beginning of this change. Awaab’s Law must be viewed as an immediate call to action in terms of addressing concerns within an appropriate timeline and acknowledging the urgent statutory timeline.
