Mould and damp to be tackled in Tameside and Oldham homes thanks to government cash

Tameside and Oldham are to receive a cut of government funding to tackle mould and damp problems in social housing.

Up to 12,825 homes are to be treated for mould and damp problems across Greater Manchester following the release of government funding.

In June, the secretary of state for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove gave Greater Manchester Combined Authority £15m to tackle damp and mould health hazards. This came in the wake of two-year-old Awaab Ishak’s death in Rochdale, who died in December 2020 as a result of exposure to mould in his home.

This money was distributed among 17 housing associations across GM in order to deal with high risk damp and mould issues as well as preventative works. 

in all, 83 homes in Tameside have been earmarked for work.

More than 730 homes in Oldham will be helped to reduce damp and mould.

Housing providers across the city region were invited to bid for a share of the Social Housing Quality Fund on the condition that they match the funding by 25 per cent. Different levels of funding were available depending on the severity of any problems and the improvements being proposed. 

The highest proportion of funds went to the boroughs of Rochdale, Salford and Manchester. All the work must be completed before March 31, 2024, Greater Manchester Planning and Housing Commission were told at their latest meeting.

Cases of damp and mould were divided into six bands, with Bands 1 and 2 being the most severe and the highest risk to health and safety. Across GM, a total of 109 and 1,387 homes were categorised as Band 1 and 2 respectively.

The speed of this process, which started in June 2023, was described as ‘vital’ by Coun Gavin White, executive member for housing and development at Manchester Council. This is yet another legacy left following the tragic death of the toddler Awaab Ishak – after Awaab’s Law becoming a reality back in July.

The new law sets strict timelines in which damp and mould, and other health and safety hazards, must be inspected and repaired by landlords.