Rochdale Boroughwide Housing joins the conference
I have often spoken of a massive shift in the dynamic when it comes to tolerance towards dampness in buildings. This is true of all buildings but certainly those that are occupied by some of the most vulnerable in our society. I have discussed at numerous conferences and training courses about that “perfect storm” that has lead us to this point.
It is often quoted that some of us spend up to 90 percent of our time in doors. Post the global pandemic more and more of us are spending more time in just one building, the home that we live in. The more time we spend there the more moisture we inevitably will create. This in turn increases the risk of damp and mould problems.
Add to this the cost of living crisis and whilst news coverage on the topic has undoubtedly waned, the squeeze on people’s finances is still a real strain that results in less frequent and more sporadic use of heating systems.
However, I think there can be little doubt that the factor which caused the biggest shift was the tragic events up in Rochdale, where exposure to excessive amounts of mould in his family home was considered a contributing factor to the unforgivable death of a young toddler.
Our opportunity to avoid the past repeating itself
People working in social housing and in the management of buildings will be familiar with the tragedy resulting in the little boy Awaab Ishak losing his life with the damp and mould in his home being a major contributory factor. Stories of damp and mould have frequently been in the news but none had ended in such devastating consequences and as a result this caught the nation's attention.
We are pleased that Nadhia Khan, Executive Director of Customer and Communities, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing attended every day of the inquest and has a unique perspective on what happened. We are pleased to Nadhia has agreed to speak our conference about her experiences including what we need to be alert to in order to avoid such tragedies in the future.
The session will cover:
- What happened?
- The issues leading up to service failures and the processes that allowed them to happen
- The changes implemented in RBH to focus on providing quality homes and services
- Nadhia will also discuss forthcoming legislation to discuss implications for social housing landlords.
Addressing dampness and mould in buildings, especially those housing vulnerable populations, is critical. This is a not to be missed session covering the systemic issues, remedial actions by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, and forthcoming legislation affecting social housing landlords. By learning from these events, we can ensure safe and healthy living environments, preventing further tragedies and improving community well-being.
Book your space here