Substandard Housing

Opened the debate

George Galloway dedicated the debate to Awaab Ishak, a two-year-old boy who died due to damp and mould in his home. He highlighted Rochdale's housing issues, noting that Rochdale Boroughwide Housing is one of the worst housing associations in England. Galloway emphasised that millions of homes across the UK are unfit for human habitation, despite the country being wealthy enough to increase its defence budget. He provided statistics showing high levels of housing deprivation (11.7% compared to the national average of 7.8%) and fuel poverty (35.8% compared to the national average of 27.8%). Galloway also mentioned poor health outcomes (20.5% with poor health) and high asthma rates in Rochdale. He criticised both the Conservative Government and the Labour local authority for exacerbating these issues, advocating for council housing where tenants can elect their landlord. The MP called on the Minister to visit Rochdale and see the hazardous living conditions first-hand.

Government Response

The Minister acknowledged the importance of addressing poor quality homes, which can significantly damage people's health and affect social mobility. He highlighted the tragedy of Awaab Ishak's death in Rochdale in 2020 and noted that the law already requires landlords to ensure accommodation is free from serious hazards like damp and mould. The Minister mentioned that the Secretary of State barred Rochdale Boroughwide Housing from access to funds for new houses and stepped up enforcement measures. He also introduced 'Awaab's Law' in 2023, requiring landlords to investigate and fix health hazards within specific timeframes and provide written summaries to residents. A £15 million taxpayer subsidy was provided to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to tackle damp and mould issues. The Minister acknowledged progress made on reducing category 1 hazards and improving decent homes standards across different tenures but emphasised that more work is needed to address current issues. He stated that the Government continues to work closely with local authorities and housing providers to make further improvements.