The scandal of a tragedy on the scale of two-year-old Awaab Ishak’s death resulting from exposure to appalling damp and mould in Rochdale will not be allowed to happen in Trafford, according the senior councillor responsible for the housing in the borough. 

Coun James Wright was speaking at specially convened scrutiny committee hearing where representatives of housing associations looking after Trafford’s 16,000 social homes were also called to answer questions.

Following Ashaab’s death in December 2020 a coroner released a damning report on the state of the home which contributed to his death from a respiratory condition caused by mould in the one-bedroom flat where he lived.

The tragedy also triggered an intervention from Housing Secretary Michael Gove who issued new directives to housing providers and regulations around dealing with damp and mould in social properties were also tightened up.

At last month’s Trafford council meeting, Liberal Democrats voiced fears that Trafford’s status as an ‘affluent’ borough was masking areas where people were living in deprivation, with damp mentioned as one of the issues.

They cited the Broomwood estate in Timperley as one area of major concern.

That resulted in the convening of the special scrutiny committee where lead member for housing and advice Coun Wright delivered a strong defence of Trafford’s record on housing.

He said that although the council does not itself own or manage any housing stock in the borough directly ‘it does not impede our ability to take action against hazards and we are committed to doing so’.

Coun Wright said: “We will review, advise and if required investigate any complaints of damp, mould, or other hazards reported to us directly.

“Over the past 12 months we’ve 234 complaints directly to us, of these 77 were damp and mould and three were overcrowding.”

He told chair of the committee Coun David Acton: “There has been an increase in damp and mould complaints since the coroner’s report [on Ashaab’s death]. It did spark a number of complaints, and every one we receive we will investigate.

“Under my watch, we will do everything we can to drive up standards in all forms of rented housing.

“No one should have to live with damp and mould, or, for that matter, any kind of accommodation that is substandard.”

Another member of committee, Coun Laurence Walsh said: “I want to feel a sense of urgency within the council.

“It’s quite frightening that that little boy died. We certainly don’t want that happening in this borough.”

And he asked Coun Wright: “Can you reassure me that we’re taking urgent measures and that we’re on the case and doing something about it that’s different from before, because I suspect Rochale council had lots of policies that had been checked out by members of the council and seemed to be doing very well, and yet this boy died?” 

Coun Wright responded: “ You can have an absolute reassurance from me that we are determined to tackle this issue. We don’t accept poor housing standards in this borough and we will not accept them prior to the coroner’s report and after the coroner’s report.”

Representatives from five housing associations were present at the meeting. L&Q provides the most social housing in Trafford at 9,500.

Meanwhile, Coun Wright was critical over the lack of resources from central government for housing disrepair.

He added: “From a political perspective, we are absolutely committed to improving housing standards, a good, safe and secure home to live in. 

“I will say, we have some fantastic officers in this area, but we don’t have enough of them. “Our resources are stretched to a ridiculous level, so any further funding that we can get from central government – that is them putting their money where their mouth is – would be very much appreciated and that would enable to improve and increase the service and be more proactive as well.”