‘More people could die’, claim ex-staff at housing body criticised after Awaab Ishak’s death | UK News

Two former employees of the housing association that manages the apartment where Awaab Ishak was killed by mold have claimed that more people could have died because they accused the place of having a “culture of toxicity and bullying”.

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) controls more than 12,000 homes in the area.

Two years after Awaab’s death, Sky News has seen several properties on the Freehold Estate in Rochdale, where the boy and family live, severely moldy and damp.

Two former employees who resigned because of the culture within RBH told Sky News that tenants are suffering because of poor accommodation standards.

Gareth Swarbrick, its chief executive officer, fired on Saturday, with the association’s board saying he was removed with “immediate effect”.

Dave (not his real name), an employee who has worked at RBH for six years, told Sky News: “The culture is horrible. It’s bullying, it’s toxic to employees. It’s inappropriate. fit for any purpose.It is intended to be run as a charity with a focus on tenants [but] Nothing could be better than the truth.”

When Awaab’s parents complained about the condition of their musty and moldy apartment in 2017, Dave was working on the association’s call center.

“All staff are advised to tell anyone who calls to simply open the drip vent on your window – make sure you ventilate your property and turn on the heating and they will do whatever it takes. people off,” he said.

“The total disregard for tenants and cost-cutting is all too obvious and, to be honest, sad.”

‘Association is racist’

Awaab’s parents, who fled Sudan to seek asylum in the UK, consider the housing association to be racist.

Dave says he agrees with them. “In my opinion, yes [it is racist]”, he said. “It’s sad to say but it is so.”

RBH has denied its claims, telling Sky News: “We are not a racist organization, but we accept that assumptions were made wrong in the Awaab case. We do. is acting quickly to review our current approach and the changes we need to make.”

Dave insists there is only one way to avoid another tragedy. “I’m sure more people will die from not being repaired,” he said.

“I think the only way the tenants will be safe is if the RBH is closed and the council takes it back.”

Another employee, who quit this year, quit after she heard about why and how Awaab passed away.

Julie (not her real name) claims management “covered it up” and didn’t tell staff what happened.

She told Sky News: “I know one day RBH will make headlines because of how bad things are going. I just hope it’s not due to someone’s death, especially one tenant. Worse, it’s a boy.”

Julie added: “What they’re doing isn’t right. They’re saying one thing and doing another – and that’s not morally right for me.”

Julie commented on RBH’s culture: “It was toxic and people started to treat employees the way they wanted to, especially those who challenged decisions. They would be disciplined. Eventually, it just creates an element of fear in the organization.”

Awaab died in December 2020. The coroner’s investigation concluded this month that he died from prolonged exposure to mold and moisture in the inadequate accommodation provided by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing. .

This will be a defining moment for the social housing sector, the investigator said.

RBH told Sky News it was “disappointing that two former employees claimed that there was a culture of bullying”, adding: “We are an employee- and tenant-owned joint organization with a core set of values. strong core. Our culture is collaborative and reciprocal.”