SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan has criticised a lackadaisical approach from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to address the widespread issue of damp throughout properties.
Figures obtained from the Department for Communities have revealed that 44,935 cases of damp and condensation have been reported within NIHE properties across the North of Ireland since 2017/18.
In a landmark ruling at Rochdale Coroners’ Court earlier this week, the Coroner stated that prolonged and chronic exposure to mould resulted in the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak.
Mr Durkan said this should serve as a watershed moment for policy makers to ensure that adequate regulation is in place to protect tenants in both social and private rented accommodation.
Said the Foyle MLA: “It’s mindboggling that despite a colossal number of recorded damp and condensation cases within the last five years, almost 45,000, that the Housing Executive has only carried out wall cavity insulation works on just 481 properties.
“Despite the Housing Executive Cavity Wall Insulation Action Plan, only a fraction of properties across the North have benefitted from this scheme.
“I appreciate that damp is a complicated problem and wall insulation alone is not a panacea.
“However, the myriad of deep rooted issues facing NIHE at this time in conjunction with the cost of living of emergency, creates a perfect storm.
“Last month, it was revealed that the Housing Executive failure to reach a suitable agreement with ten of their thirteen contractors for planned maintenance contracts will see works planned for 2022/23 including the installation of new windows for thousands of properties, delayed by at least 12 months.
“It’s reasonable therefore to assume that the rollout of cavity wall insulation will also experience delays.
“This will have a profound impact on thousands of tenants eagerly awaiting necessary upgrades.
“The effect that not tackling damp in properties could have on people’s health does not bear thinking about and sadly, this week we have seen that the consequences can be devastating.
“Given soaring fuel costs and continued cost of living emergency, the reality is that existing issues with damp are likely to deepen over the winter months and in the time ahead as households struggle to heat their homes.
Mr Durkan added: “My office receives calls from tenants on a near daily basis about damp within their properties or problems with outdated and rotting window frames.
“I’ve witnessed some genuinely shocking situations, one case which I dealt with during the pandemic immediately comes to mind, involving a young family.
“In eerily similar circumstances to that of young Awaab Ishak, this flat was riddled with mould- it covered the child’s pram, cot and the bedroom three members of this family were sleeping was worse affected.
“The child’s health had deteriorated and their parents had been making frequent trips to their GP due to respiratory problems.
“Following intervention from my office we were able to secure alternative accommodation for this family but this could have ended very differently.
“Blame can’t be laid entirely on the absence of an executive in this case.
“Successive Communities Ministers were aware of these issues and failed to get a grip on a situation which will and already has put tenants’ health at risk.
“Going forward we need to look at introducing legislation that will ensure all tenants, whether in social or private rented accommodation, are protected.”
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