Thousands of homes to receive treatment for damp and mould issues after £15m funding released

Up to 12,825 homes are to be treated for mould and damp problems across Greater Manchester following the release of government funding.

In June, the secretary of state for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove gave Greater Manchester Combined Authority £15m to tackle damp and mould health hazards. This came in the wake of two-year-old Awaab Ishak’s death in Rochdale, who died in December 2020 as a result of exposure to mould in his home.

This money was distributed among 17 housing associations across Greater Manchester in order to deal with high risk damp and mould issues as well as preventative works. 

Housing providers across the city region were invited to bid for a share of the Social Housing Quality Fund on the condition that they match the funding by 25 per cent. Different levels of funding were available depending on the severity of any problems and the improvements being proposed. 

The highest proportion of funds went to the boroughs of Rochdale, Salford and Manchester. All the work must be completed before 31 March 2024, the Greater Manchester Planning and Housing Commission was told at its latest meeting.

Cases of damp and mould were divided into six bands, with Bands 1 and 2 being the most severe and the highest risk to health and safety. Across Greater Manchester, a total of 109 and 1,387 homes were categorised as Band 1 and 2 respectively.

The speed of this process, which started in June 2023, was described as ‘vital’ by Councillor Gavin White, executive member for housing and development at Manchester Council. This is yet another legacy left following the tragic death of the toddler Awaab Ishak – after Awaab’s Law becoming a reality back in July.

The new law sets strict timelines in which damp and mould, and other health and safety hazards, must be inspected and repaired by landlords.

Funding has been granted to tackle damp and mould issues in 4,307 properties in the Rochdale borough.

This is more houses than all the other boroughs in Greater Manchester, which received funding for the following number of properties:

• Bolton: 934 
• Bury: 561 
• Manchester: 2,167 
• Oldham: 738
• Salford: 2,886 
• Stockport: 438
• Tameside: 83 
• Trafford: 458
• Wigan: 19 

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing received one of the highest amounts in funding; £1,846,843 for works on 3,721 homes.

Nadhia Khan, RBH Executive Director of Customer and Community, said: "We have received £1.85m in funding from the Social Housing Quality Fund via the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to deliver a range of improvements to 3,721 of our customers’ homes.

"This funding will support our work on addressing damp and mould issues, including monitoring the conditions within homes after treatment which will enable us to understand early whether the works completed have been effective.

"In addition to the early identification and treatment of damp and mould, we’ll also be investing in renewal of cavity wall insulation and renewal of porches, which will improve the thermal efficiency of our homes. 

"We are committed to investing in our homes, and this funding is in addition to the £45m we have pledged to invest over the next five years. We’re really pleased to have been awarded this funding and it will make a huge difference to the people and families who live in our homes."

The other housing associations given funding and the number of homes they plan to treat are listed below:

• Bolton at Home: 934 homes, £2,263,700 in funding
• FCHO: 541 homes, £480,679 in funding
• ForHousing: 250 homes, £250,000 in funding
• Great Places: 130 homes, £570,990 in funding
• Irwell Valley Housing: 990 homes, £757,577 in funding
• MSV Housing Group: 267 homes, £475,333 in funding
• One Manchester: 434 homes, £2,950,117 in funding
• Onward Homes: 250 homes, £526,500 in funding
• Places for People: 222 homes, £376,491 in funding
• Salix Homes: 2,349 homes, £679,683 in funding
• Six Town Housing: 166 homes, £520,607 in funding
• Southway Housing Trust: 557 homes, £253,156 in funding
• Stockport Homes: 45 homes, £168,355 in funding
• The Guinness Partnership 1,100 homes, £1,267,163 in funding
• The Riverside Group: 234 homes, £899,587 in funding
• WCHG: 645 homes, £556,530 in funding

George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporter