The shocking death of Awaab Ishak and the initial failure to take action by his social landlord Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, is still reverberating.
Yesterday’s publication of the Housing Ombudsman special report is highly critical of the practices and procedures at Rochdale Boroughwide Housing.
The report’s case studies are shocking but unsurprising. Rochdale Boroughwide Housing staff were found to have dismissed residents and their concerns out of hand, believed that they knew better, and that the expectations of their residents were unreasonable.
This is unacceptable, but also very sad coming from a mutual society. Where was the humanity? A mutual society is co-owned by its residents and its employees. The report calls the housing staff’s attitude ‘othering’ although it seems clear that staff had racist and discriminatory attitudes. Saying that refugee tenants were lucky to have a roof over their heads and that mould was acceptable in their homes, is shameful. Housing staff had a complete disregard for asylum seekers and refugees.
Awaab’s parents came to the UK from Sudan and previously accused the landlord of racism and unfair treatment towards refugees and asylum seekers. Awaab died in December 2020 yet the landlord waited nearly two years to check other properties.
We know from looking at national data that Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups are at greater risk of experiencing housing deprivation and that this is the case whether they are living in social housing or renting privately. It is also true across their life course. We also know that Black, Asian and minority ethnic households are more likely to live in homes with damp. These experiences of living in poor housing are also likely to have been made worse by the impact of Covid-19.
The Ombudsman rightly sets out recommendations for Rochdale Boroughwide Housing to quickly follow up on – from reviewing lessons learned, creating guidance and strategies, to engaging with residents and empowering staff. However, there is no mention of being anti-racist. Following the failings that led to Awaab’s death, this housing association and others should look at what more they can do to combat racial prejudice and discrimination.
This report further highlights the wider consequences of our failure to progress racial equality effectively. We are not building enough affordable homes and we have not managed to improve the quality of the homes that we do have, particularly in areas with significant Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.
For people who live in social housing, their lives and welfare depend on their landlord knowing who they are, what home they live in, and what has been done previously – this information must be reviewed regularly and updated so that people stay safe, not ignored and literally left to die.
Everyone needs a safe and healthy home regardless of who they are or where they come from. To ultimately end racism and discrimination in housing we need to invest in more, good quality, and well-regulated social housing.
