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| Black mould: How dangerous is it in the home and how can it be treated? | Black mould: How dangerous is it in the home and how can it be treated? |
| (30 days later) | |
| Exposure to mould can cause respiratory illnesses, allergies and asthma, and can sometimes be fatal. | Exposure to mould can cause respiratory illnesses, allergies and asthma, and can sometimes be fatal. |
| In 2020, two-year-old Awaab Ishak died after prolonged exposure to mould in his home in Rochdale. | In 2020, two-year-old Awaab Ishak died after prolonged exposure to mould in his home in Rochdale. |
| Under new government proposals, dubbed "Awaab's law", social housing landlords in England could be forced to repair mouldy properties much more quickly. | Under new government proposals, dubbed "Awaab's law", social housing landlords in England could be forced to repair mouldy properties much more quickly. |
| What is black mould? | What is black mould? |
| Mould - sometimes referred to by the American spelling mold - is a microscopic fungus that grows in damp places. | |
| Mould spores are found everywhere, and are released in their thousands into the atmosphere. | Mould spores are found everywhere, and are released in their thousands into the atmosphere. |
| Signs of mould at home include fuzzy black, white or green patches on the walls, and a damp and musty smell. | Signs of mould at home include fuzzy black, white or green patches on the walls, and a damp and musty smell. |
| Can black mould affect your health and what are the symptoms? | |
| People living with mould are more likely to suffer from respiratory illnesses, infections, allergies or asthma. | People living with mould are more likely to suffer from respiratory illnesses, infections, allergies or asthma. |
| Inhaling or touching the spores that mould releases into the air can cause an allergic reaction, such as sneezing, a runny nose, red eyes and a skin rash. | Inhaling or touching the spores that mould releases into the air can cause an allergic reaction, such as sneezing, a runny nose, red eyes and a skin rash. |
| Mould can also trigger asthma attacks and cause coughing, wheezing and breathlessness. | Mould can also trigger asthma attacks and cause coughing, wheezing and breathlessness. |
| Each year, the NHS in England spends an estimated £1.4bn on treating illnesses associated with living in cold or damp housing, according to building research body BRE. | Each year, the NHS in England spends an estimated £1.4bn on treating illnesses associated with living in cold or damp housing, according to building research body BRE. |
| Those more at risk from mould include the elderly, children and babies, as well as people with existing respiratory illnesses and some skin problems. | Those more at risk from mould include the elderly, children and babies, as well as people with existing respiratory illnesses and some skin problems. |
| Two-year-old Awaab Ishak died from a respiratory condition caused by exposure to mould in his home | Two-year-old Awaab Ishak died from a respiratory condition caused by exposure to mould in his home |
| What causes mould in houses and how do you remove it? | |
| Condensation is the leading cause of mould in homes across the UK. | Condensation is the leading cause of mould in homes across the UK. |
| It most commonly occurs in parts of the home where there are high moisture levels: bathrooms, kitchens, and around windows. | It most commonly occurs in parts of the home where there are high moisture levels: bathrooms, kitchens, and around windows. |
| When air cools, water vapour forms into water droplets as it comes into contact with surfaces in the home that are below a temperature known as the dew point. | When air cools, water vapour forms into water droplets as it comes into contact with surfaces in the home that are below a temperature known as the dew point. |
| These surfaces can include uninsulated external walls or windows. | These surfaces can include uninsulated external walls or windows. |
| If left untreated, the surface can become damp and create the conditions for mould to grow. | If left untreated, the surface can become damp and create the conditions for mould to grow. |
| Older and poorly insulated properties are more prone to this. | Older and poorly insulated properties are more prone to this. |
| Mould can also be caused by daily tasks which create excess moisture such as showering, cooking and drying washing indoors. | Mould can also be caused by daily tasks which create excess moisture such as showering, cooking and drying washing indoors. |
| Taking shorter showers and wiping down surfaces afterwards can help, as can improving ventilation and opening kitchen windows or using an extractor fan when cooking. | |
| It is also important to check for leaky pipes or gutters which can make the problem worse. | It is also important to check for leaky pipes or gutters which can make the problem worse. |
| What rights do tenants have if their home has mould? | What rights do tenants have if their home has mould? |
| Private and social landlords have a responsibility to make sure homes are safe and in good repair. | Private and social landlords have a responsibility to make sure homes are safe and in good repair. |
| In private and social rental properties, it is the landlord's responsibility to fix a mould problem which is due to poor maintenance, according to the housing charity Shelter. | In private and social rental properties, it is the landlord's responsibility to fix a mould problem which is due to poor maintenance, according to the housing charity Shelter. |
| If the mould is so bad that your home becomes unfit for habitation, then you could be classed as homeless and entitled to emergency accommodation. | If the mould is so bad that your home becomes unfit for habitation, then you could be classed as homeless and entitled to emergency accommodation. |
| But landlords may not be responsible if there is evidence a tenant has not been ventilating the home correctly. | But landlords may not be responsible if there is evidence a tenant has not been ventilating the home correctly. |
| Mayor pledges to tackle rogue landlords | Mayor pledges to tackle rogue landlords |
| What does Awaab Ishak's death tell us about England's housing? | What does Awaab Ishak's death tell us about England's housing? |
| Who was Awaab Ishak? | Who was Awaab Ishak? |
| Awaab Ishak died shortly after his second birthday | Awaab Ishak died shortly after his second birthday |
| In December 2020, two-year-old Awaab Ishak died after prolonged exposure to mould in his home. | In December 2020, two-year-old Awaab Ishak died after prolonged exposure to mould in his home. |
| He lived in a one-bedroom flat in Rochdale with his father Faisal Abdullah and Faisal's wife Aisha Amin. | He lived in a one-bedroom flat in Rochdale with his father Faisal Abdullah and Faisal's wife Aisha Amin. |
| Mr Abdullah reported mould developing in the flat to his housing association, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH), in 2017, but was told to paint over it. | Mr Abdullah reported mould developing in the flat to his housing association, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH), in 2017, but was told to paint over it. |
| In June 2020, he instructed solicitors to issue a claim over the recurring mould, but repairs had to wait until the case was settled. | |
| Awaab was taken to Rochdale Urgent Care Centre on 19 December that year with shortness of breath, and died a few days later after suffering respiratory and cardiac arrest. | Awaab was taken to Rochdale Urgent Care Centre on 19 December that year with shortness of breath, and died a few days later after suffering respiratory and cardiac arrest. |
| What would landlords have to do about mould under "Awaab's law"? | What would landlords have to do about mould under "Awaab's law"? |
| The government has announced plans to ensure social housing providers in England address hazards such as damp and mould more quickly. | The government has announced plans to ensure social housing providers in England address hazards such as damp and mould more quickly. |
| Social landlords would have to investigate issues within 14 days and begin fixing them within a further seven days. Emergency repairs would have to be made within 24 hours. | Social landlords would have to investigate issues within 14 days and begin fixing them within a further seven days. Emergency repairs would have to be made within 24 hours. |
| Landlords who fail to comply could be taken to court and ordered to pay compensation. | Landlords who fail to comply could be taken to court and ordered to pay compensation. |
| A consultation on the proposals closes on 5 March. | A consultation on the proposals closes on 5 March. |
| After this, the government says it will bring Awaab's Law into force "as soon as practically possible". | After this, the government says it will bring Awaab's Law into force "as soon as practically possible". |
| What is the position in the rest of the UK? | What is the position in the rest of the UK? |
| In Wales, the director of Housing and Regeneration asked social landlords to set out their response to the issues highlighted by Awaab's death. | In Wales, the director of Housing and Regeneration asked social landlords to set out their response to the issues highlighted by Awaab's death. |
| Four leading housing organisations in Scotland issued updated guidance about how the social housing sector should respond to damp and mould. | Four leading housing organisations in Scotland issued updated guidance about how the social housing sector should respond to damp and mould. |
| In December 2022, the body representing Northern Ireland housing associations said its members were "reviewing their approaches to tackling mould and dampness". | |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Housing | Housing |
| Health | Health |
| Manchester | Manchester |
| Landlords | Landlords |
| Rochdale | Rochdale |
| Social housing | Social housing |