Historic day for Awaab's Law ahead as petition set to be handed in

In the wake of Awaab Ishak's tragic death, tens of thousands of people said 'never again'. More than 177,000 signed a change.org petition launched by the Manchester Evening News, demanding a law change in the two-year-old's memory.

Little Awaab died in December 2020 following prolonged exposure to mould in a Rochdale social flat, on the same estate where the M.E.N. revealed other families were suffering with similar housing conditions. Today (June 27), the voices of those who backed our call for change will be heard loud and clear, as the Awaab's Law petition is delivered on Downing Street.

A total of 177,588 people had backed the petition as of 6pm yesterday. The numbers swelled in the first few weeks of the campaign, following Awaab's inquest at Rochdale Coroners Court last November.

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But support has continued to grow ever since, with dozens still adding their names to the petition each week. Their collective call for change will be delivered to Westminster as the M.E.N. urges lawmakers to get the proposed law changes on the statute books as quickly as possible.

The delivery comes as the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill reaches the final stage in Parliament this afternoon. After amendments meeting the demands of the Awaab's Law campaign were included earlier this year, the Bill returns to the House of Lords, for the final hurdle before it can be given Royal Assent.

Awaab's Law will mean social landlords have to follow strict timeframes to inspect cases of damp and mould, and carry out urgent repairs. Those timeframes will be set following a consultation period, expected to take place later this year.

New legislation will