A Wellingborough family has shared their positive experiences of quick damp and mould resolution on national TV, following a visit from the Housing Secretary.
The Rt Hon Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, today visited Greatwell Homes in Wellingborough to see first-hand how the housing provider is already putting the principles of Awaab’s Law into practice.
Awaab’s Law, which came into force on Monday 27 October, is named after two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who died from a respiratory condition caused by exposure to mould in his home in Rochdale in 2020.
The changes mean all social landlords must fix emergency health and safety hazards within 24 hours of reporting and investigate significant damp and mould within 10 working days of it being reported.
Greatwell Homes was chosen as a place to launch the legislation, as a positive example of how social landlords across the country are learning from the tragic death of Awaab Ishak and supporting residents’ safety.
The visit took place at a family home on Bell Court, where Greatwell Homes acted swiftly after identifying damp and mould concerns – more than 10 months before the new legislation was due to take effect.
During the visit, the Secretary of State met Prosper and Kamandate Gomes and their two young children, who were supported by Greatwell Homes through extensive repair work and temporary accommodation over Christmas 2024.
Thanks to Greatwell Homes’ trained staff, a visit for an unrelated routine repair resulted in the detection of the damp and mould issue and was quickly escalated. Within hours, they were moved to safe local temporary accommodation, allowing a full programme of works to be completed. To tackle the issue, works included a new Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) system, replacement loft insulation, an additional radiator, upgraded extractor fans and a replacement bathroom ceiling.
Following the family’s return home in early 2025, Greatwell Homes carried out monthly monitoring visits, provided energy bill advice, and installed humidity sensors to help prevent recurrence. The home will soon benefit from boiler and room sensors, providing real-time data to enable early intervention if future risks are detected.
Jo Savage, chief executive of Greatwell Homes, said: “We welcomed the opportunity to show the Secretary of State how seriously we take our responsibility to keep customers safe and well in their homes, as highlighted in our Live Safe strategy objectives.
“Awaab’s Law is an essential step forward for the housing sector and we’re proud that our colleagues already work to these standards. This visit recognises not only our robust processes, but the culture and training that empower our teams to act quickly and compassionately.
“I also want to thank the National Housing Federation for the work they have done in supporting housing associations like ourselves in the preparation for Awaab’s Law.”
In launching the new law, Housing Secretary Steve Reed said: “Everyone deserves a safe and decent home to live in and Awaab Ishak is a powerful reminder of how this can sadly be a matter of life or death.
“Awaab’s family has fought hard for change and their work to protect millions of tenants’ lives will live on as a legacy to their son.
“Our changes will give tenants a stronger voice and force landlords to act urgently when lives are at risk, ensuring such tragedies are never repeated.”
Greatwell Homes customers wanting more information on damp and mould prevention and the new law can visit New law regarding emergency repairs – what it means for you | Greatwell Homes