The housing association that managed the flat in which toddler Awaab Ishak was killed by mould received 106 formal complaints about damp or mould in their properties over the last year, Sky News can reveal.
Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) confirmed the figure in a statement where it also said it looks after around 12,500 homes.
A former RBH employee, who resigned because of a “toxic culture” within the organisation, disputes the figure for the amount of complaints and claims there will be “hundreds more” than what has been recorded.
The housing association, which has come under fire over the death of Awaab due to prolonged exposure to damp and mould, said they are “proactively contacting” all of their customers to remind them about how to contact them if they experience any damp or mould in their homes.
Speaking to Sky News, “Eleanor”, who wanted to protect her identity, claimed: “RBH have been putting profit before people for a long time. They try to cut corners and make them more cash-rich. I’ve been in meetings where it has all been about cost-cutting and how much can we save?”
She added: “That has a knock-on effect to the tenants because they’re not going to get that level of service they need. It’s a death by a thousand cuts.”
When asked if she felt others could die at the hands of RBH’s properties if there isn’t drastic change, she replied: “Absolutely. If it’s happened once, it can happen again.”
When asked to confirm how many complaints about damp and mould it had received in a year, RBH said in its statement to Sky News: “We look after around 12,500 homes and over the last 12 months we have had 106 complaints about damp and mould.
“We provide a full response to initial complaints on average within five days.”
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4:11
‘More could die’
‘We’re breathing it all into our lungs’
Over the last week Sky News has witnessed at least six homes with mould and damp at the Freehold Estate, where Awaab and his family were living between 2017 and 2020, even two years on from his death.
Uwezo lives with young and old people in the flat below and is now worried for his mum’s health because of the mould which has spread from his bathroom to the kitchen.
He told Sky News: “It’s not obviously safe because we have among us grandchildren and seeing what happened to that poor child, it’s not safe to see this happening like this. The ventilation is too old it needs to be changed.”
He added: “We’re breathing it all into our lungs. My mother already doesn’t have the best health and so it’s really heartbreaking to see my mum living in this environment.”
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1:34
‘Awaab’s death must not be in vain’
Housing secretary puts RBH on notice
Concern about RBH’s ability was flagged by Housing Secretary Michael Gove at a select committee hearing.
The MP has put RBH on notice after they sacked their chief executive on Saturday – but he now feels the blame goes beyond Gareth Swarbrick.
He told the committee: “Even when in RBH’s case they had these problems brought to their attention the board thought it appropriate to keep the chief executive in place, and it seems to me you shouldn’t blame one individual, ultimately chief executive and the board should carry the can.”
Image: Former chief executive of RBH, Gareth Swarbrick, has been sacked
Asked about Mr Gove’s remarks, a spokesperson for RBH said: “The priority for the board right now is to bring in an external interim chief executive to lead the organisation through this period of change and they are working hard to make that happen as soon as possible.
“Of course the board is also focused on its own role and they will be discussing any changes that need to be made once the interim CEO is in place.”
They said around three-quarters of RBH employees live in Rochdale Borough and many are RBH tenants.
They added that in an employee survey over 85% of 400 employees who responded said they felt well supported by RBH, over 80% said they were proud of how RBH supports customers and colleagues and over 90% felt trusted to do their job.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said the Ukrainian people “are truly thankful” for US support, hours after talks with Donald Trump descended into a row at the White House.
In a lengthy social media post, Mr Zelenskyy said: “I always begin with words of gratitude from our nation to the American nation”.
The Ukrainian president insisted the US-Ukraine relationship “is more than just two leaders” but it was “crucial” for his country to have Mr Trump’s support.
He added: “American people helped save our people. Humans and human rights come first. We’re truly thankful. We want only strong relations with America, and I really hope we will have them.”
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Mr Zelenskyy will meet Sir Keir Starmer in Downing Street on Saturday afternoon after his plane landed at Stansted Airport.
It comes ahead of a major summit hosted by the UK prime minister on Sunday, where more than a dozen European and EU leaders including Mr Zelenskyy will meet to discuss the Ukraine war and security.
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0:28
Zelenskyy’s plane lands in UK
The Ukrainian president had travelled to Washington DC to attempt to secure a ceasefire agreement after three years of war with Russia and a possible mineral deal with the US.
The meeting descended into a shouting match in front of cameras and journalists.
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10:47
Watch Trump and Zelenskyy clash
Mr Vance told Mr Zelenskyy: “I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media.
“You should be thanking the President [Trump] for trying to bring an end to this conflict.”
Image: Mr Zelenskyy and Mr Trump clash. Pics: Reuters
‘You’re gambling with World War Three’
The Ukrainian president tried to object but Mr Trump spoke over him and told him: “You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people.
“You’re gambling with World War Three, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have.”
Mr Zelenskyy defended himself and his country, openly challenging Mr Trump on his softer approach to Vladimir Putin and urging him to make “no compromises with a killer”.
Tonight’s BRIT Awards are shaping up to be a big night for female British artists, including Charli XCX and Dua Lipa.
The ceremony, which is taking place at London’s O2 Arena, will see artists who are currently dominating the charts come together to celebrate the best in popular music.
Leading nominations with five nods is Charli XCX, whose sixth album Brat was a viral hit last year.
Dua Lipa closely follows with four nominations – along with 2024 rising star winners The Last Dinner Party, and 2023 Mercury Prize winners Ezra Collective.
It will be his first time at the helm in four years, but fifth in total, after taking on the role for four consecutive years from 2018 to 2021.
Image: Host Jack Whitehall. Pic: John Marshall/JMEnternational
There are 16 categories for awards this year, including the big one – album of the year.
In the running for this is Charli XCX – BRAT, The Cure – Songs Of A Lost World, Dua Lipa – Radical Optimism, Ezra Collective – Dance, No One’s Watching and The Last Dinner Party – Prelude to Ecstasy.
Other awards up for grabs include: Artist of the year, group of the year, best new artist, song of the year, international artist of the year, international group of the year, international song of the year, alternative rock act, hip-hop/grime/rap act, dance act, pop act and R&B act.
Last year’s ceremony saw singer-songwriter Raye dominating, with a record number of six wins including a clean sweep of the big three; best artist, best song and best album.
This year, the trophy that winners will pick up on the night has been designed by artist Gabriel Moses.
Image: This year’s Brit Award trophy designed by Gabriel Moses. Pic: Brit Awards
Who is nominated?
Before the awards have even begun, Charli XCX has been announced as the winner of this year’s songwriter of the year award.
Also recognised is her longtime collaborator AG Cook, winning BRITs producer of the year, reflecting the combined impact he and Charli XCX have had on music over the last 12 months.
The singer – whose real name is Charlotte Aitchison – could still pick up another five awards tonight including: pop act, dance act, song of the year, artist of the year and album of the year.
Behind Charli XCX, this year also sees The Beatles pick up a nomination for the song Now And Then.
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1:01
The Brits go brat: 2025 nominations revealed
The Cure are also back with three nominations – following the release of their 14th album, Songs Of A Lost World, in 2024.
International artists such as Beyonce, Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift, Benson Boone, Chappell Roan and Kendrick Lamar have also all got nods, as well as homegrown talent such as Central Cee, Fred again.., Sam Fender and former Little Mix star JADE.
Image: Dua Lipa is nominated for four awards. Pic: Oscar Douglas
Sabrina Carpenter will become the first international artist to receive the global success award after breaking records in the UK charts.
The pop star held the top spot on the Official UK Charts for a combined 21 weeks in 2024, the first artist to do so in 71 years.
Image: Sabrina Carpenter at the Grammys. Pic: AP/Chris Pizzello
Her mega-hits Taste, Please Please Please and Espresso held the top three spots simultaneously, making her the first female artist to do so.
Already named as this year’s rising star is British singer-songwriter Myles Smith, whose single Stargazing became one of the UK’s biggest hits of 2024.
You can read the full list of nominations ahead of tonight, right here.
Image: The Cure. Pic: Andy Vella
Who is performing?
Taking to the stage at this year’s ceremony is a mix of UK and US artists including Sam Fender, JADE, Teddy Swims and Myles Smith.
Off the back of winning the award for global success, Sabrina Carpenter, will also treat audiences to a performance.
It comes after Carpenter’s slapstick comedy mashup performance at the Grammy’s was dubbed “iconic” by fans.
Image: The Last Dinner Party will take to the stage to perform. Pic: Brit Awards
It is the first year American artists Shaboozey, known for A Bar Song (Tipsy) and Teddy Swims, known for Lose Control, will also perform at the awards.
“I’m beyond grateful and humbled to not only be nominated for a BRIT Award but to take the stage,” Shaboozey said.
“This past year has been huge for me with my records getting love from all over the world and now I can celebrate with my friends and fans in London.”
Image: Myles Smith is this year’s Brit Awards rising star winner. Pic: JM Enternational
Meanwhile, JADE, whose real name is Jade Thirlwall, said she “manifested” performing at the BRITs every day since the release of her debut solo single Angel Of My Dreams last year.
The singer already has three BRIT Awards to her name, winning best British single for Shout Out To My Ex, video of the year for Woman Like Me and best British group with Little Mix, but is nominated this year as a solo artist in the song of the year and pop act categories.
Image: Former Little Mix star JADE. Pic: Flore Barbay
Also performing on the night are Lola Young – who is nominated for best pop act – and The Last Dinner Party, who won the BRITs rising star award last year.
How to watch
Live coverage of the BRITs will start on ITV and ITVX from 8.15pm tonight.
You can also follow along with all the latest from the red carpet and ceremony on Sky News and our dedicated live blog.
For those outside the UK, the show is available to watch internationally on the BRITs YouTube channel.