The Housing Ombudsman, Richard Blakeway, has written to the Chief Executive of Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH), following the coroner’s verdict on the Awaab Ishak inquest.

The Ombudsman says he has reviewed the current casework about the social landlord and has instructed his team to expedite three investigations. For the first time, the investigation team will use a power in the Housing Ombudsman Scheme that enables them to gather any information required, including interviews with staff.

He will also be exercising his powers to carry out a further investigation to see if this complaint is indicative of wider failure within the landlord.

A coroner ruled yesterday that two-year-old Awaab died as a consequence of mould in the RBH property he lived in with his parents. Awaab’s father, Faisal Abdullah, first raised concerns about the presence of the mould in 2017 but was told to paint over it. Awaab died of respiratory problems in 2020.

RBH’s CEO, Gareth Swarbrick, has also been summoned by housing secretary Michael Gove to explain the circumstances that led to the toddler’s death.

A copy of the Ombudsman’s letter can be read here.