The housing association that failed to treat hazardous mould leading to the tragic death of Awaab Ishak will be stripped of new government funding, levelling up secretary Michael Gove has announced
The government has taken action against the failing housing association Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH), which will no longer receive its expected £1m funding from the Affordable Homes Programme (AHP 2021-26) or receive any new AHP contracts for new homes.
The funding will not resume until the regulator of social housing has concluded its investigation and it can prove the failing housing association is a responsible landlord.
The government will also continue to monitor housing standards of RBH tenancies closely, working with the regulator and ombudsman, to ensure that tenants have appropriate housing.
Failing housing associations are not the only target of the government measures
As part of a wider crackdown on poor standards, the housing secretary will also block any housing provider that breaches the Regulator’s consumer standards from new AHP funding until they make improvements.
Michael Gove will also consider stripping providers of existing AHP funding, unless construction has already started on site.
The move comes after Gove wrote to all councils and housing associations this weekend, saying they must raise the bar dramatically on standards and demanding urgent action where people complain about damp and mould.
The government is also cracking down on rogue landlords mananging privately rented homes
Seven areas with high numbers of poor quality privately rented homes have been given £14m to crack down on rogue landlords and test new approaches to driving up standards. Projects include:
- £2.3m for Greater Manchester – including Rochdale and surrounding councils – to increase the use of fines where a landlord is found to have committed an offence
- £678,000 for Leeds to use behavioural science to change culture among landlords, improving knowledge and skills
- £1.14m for Cornwall to create a database of private rented accommodation in the area and record standards to target better enforcement action
To make sure tenants know their rights and can hold housing providers to account, the government is also launching a £1m public information campaign early next year.
The regulator of social housing will take action where standards are not being met
The regulator has demanded evidence from all housing association and local authority landlords this week, showing they are identifying and dealing with damp and mould issues in their homes.
The Social Housing Regulation Bill, currently making its way through Parliament, will also ensure tenants’ complaints are listened to and dealt with quickly and fairly, with new powers for the Housing Ombudsman to take action on complaints.
A stronger regulator will have powers to enter properties with only 48 hours’ notice and make emergency repairs where there is a serious risk to tenants and the landlord has failed to act, with landlords footing the bill.
Taking a stronger stance on protecting tenants from failing housing associations
Housing Secretary Michael Gove said:
“RBH failed its tenants so it will not receive a penny of additional taxpayers’ money for new housing until it gets its act together and does right by tenants.
“Let this be a warning to other housing providers who are ignoring complaints and failing in their obligations to tenants. We will not hesitate to act.
“Everyone deserves the right to live in safe, decent homes and this government will always act to protect tenants.”
