Housing association ‘are modern day slum lords’, says 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.

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’.

The MP was speaking in Parliament on 16 November during a debate on social housing standards along with the MP for Rochdale, Sir Tony Lloyd.
 

Read more: RBH CEO Gareth Swarbrick faces mounting pressures to quit his £185k position after death of Awaab IshakPublished: 17 November 2022

Read more: Prolonged exposure to mould in RBH flat led to death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, inquest concludesPublished: 15 November 2022

“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?”

Michael Gove, 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.”

Mr Clarkson has welcomed Mr Gove's statement on social housing standards, and the government's actions to protect social housing tenants, including the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill, which will provide greater protection to those who have voiced their concerns for safety and standards of living in social housing.

He added: "The case of Awaab Ishak is a tragedy - to think that in this day and age and in this country a child should die as a result of sub-standard housing should be a cause of collective shame and sorrow.

"The callous indifference and prejudice of RBH cannot be excused and the ramifications of their failures should be felt at the highest levels of the organisation. I've been extremely grateful to Michael Gove for his regular contact and diligence in this matter and his hard work to make the changes necessary to ensure that everyone in Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale has access to the good quality homes they deserve."

 

 

Tony Lloyd, MP for Rochdale, called for an investigation into Rochdale Boroughwide Housing and also suggested that the chief executive should resign.

He said: "The Secretary of State rightly says we need the new definition of decent homes. Does that include classifying mould as a category 1 hazard, for example, because that would be an important step in providing protection? Will he also guarantee this important matter? There is a debate about the funding of local authorities, but there needs to be specific recognition that if we are to prevent this kind of tragedy, we must have enforcement and we must have structures that have the resources to enforce, such as local authority housing ombudsmen.

"At the local level, the Secretary of State made reference to Rochdale Boroughwide Housing. I have to say that I have very little faith in the senior management of that body.

"There needs to be some personal responsibility in this, and the capacity for those at a senior level to face the consequences either legally, or in any case of losing their job. I would welcome an investigation into Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, and I hope this can now be done, because there are serious issues. I really do think that the chief executive, and perhaps some of those on other executive bodies, need to question their own role and whether they should be there any longer."

George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporter