Post-mortem examination reveals potential involvement of mould in the demise of a Mansfield council housing resident
In the small town of Mansfield, England, the tragic death of Jane Bennett has sparked a national conversation about the state of social housing and the urgent need for reform.
Jane, who lived in a council-owned bungalow, had been battling a persistent mould problem for months. According to reports, her health began to deteriorate soon after moving in, and she made more than eight complaints to the council about various issues that could have caused the mould outbreak, including a leaky door, ceiling, and radiator. Despite these concerns, the mould continued to spread, and Jane was hospitalized four times in the same month for breathlessness and a cough, which she believed were linked to the mould in her property.
Dr John Hutchinson, a consultant at King's Mill hospital, wrote a letter to Mansfield District Council expressing his concerns about the impact of mould on Jane's health. However, tragically, Jane died on 8 June 2023 due to lung disease, just two days after a letter was written to the council, detailing the severity of her situation, but never sent.
The landlord at Jane Bennett's inquest stated, "In terms of doing everything we can as a landlord, I feel like we have made every attempt to do that quickly." However, it seems that it was not quick enough for Jane.
The tragic death of Jane Bennett has highlighted the urgent need for change in social housing regulations. In response, the UK government has introduced Awaab’s Law, part of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023. This law, which comes into force in October 2025, introduces strict legal duties on social landlords to rapidly tackle damp and mould problems.
Under Awaab’s Law, landlords must investigate and repair hazards like mould within tight deadlines. If the issues are not resolved promptly, landlords must provide and pay for alternative accommodation for affected tenants. The regulations are phased, with the initial focus on damp and mould, followed by the expansion to cover additional hazards such as excess cold, heat, falls, fire, electrical risks, and hygiene hazards. By 2027, the regulations will cover almost all hazards defined by the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, except overcrowding.
The introduction of Awaab’s Law is part of a broader shift in social housing regulation under the Social Housing Regulation Act 2023, aimed at improving safety, tenant engagement, and housing quality comprehensively. The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has heightened powers to hold landlords accountable and conduct inspections to enforce these standards.
In the lead-up to and context of the UK General Election in July 2023, the government expressed commitment to these reforms to address long-standing issues in social housing, such as mould, by legislating clear landlord responsibilities and deadlines. The law reflects a "test and learn" approach to enforcement, with ongoing phases over multiple years to systematically improve housing conditions.
The tragic death of Jane Bennett serves as a stark reminder of the importance of addressing mould issues in social housing properties. As we move towards the implementation of Awaab’s Law, it is hoped that tenants like Jane will no longer have to suffer in unsafe and unhealthy living conditions.
[1] Government response to the consultation on the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill [2] Awaab’s Law: a new era for social housing regulation [3] Social Housing Regulation Act 2023 [4] Regulator of Social Housing [5] Awaab’s Law: what it means for social housing tenants and landlords
- The housing condition in Mansfield, England, has drawn national attention following Jane Bennett's unfortunate demise.
- Jane, a council-owned bungalow occupant, faced a persistent issue with mould for months.
- Jane's health deteriorated significantly after moving in, with complaints about potential mould sources, such as a leaking door, ceiling, and radiator, filed with the council.
- Despite these worries, the mould growth continued, leading to four hospitalizations in one month due to breathlessness and a persistent cough.
- Dr John Hutchinson, a King's Mill hospital consultant, voiced concerns about mould's impact on Jane's health.
- Tragically, Jane passed away on 8 June 2023 due to a lung disease, two days after a letter detailing her dire situation was penned but not sent.
- The landlord, speaking at Jane Bennett's inquest, mentioned that every effort was made to rectify the issues in a timely manner.
- The tragic event underscores the need for change in social housing guidelines.
- In response, the UK government introduced Awaab’s Law, a part of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023.
- Awaab’s Law, commencing in October 2025, enforces strict legal duties on social landlords to promptly address damp and mould problems.
- Landlords must investigate and repair mould-related hazards within strict deadlines.
- Failure to act promptly will require landlords to provide and fund temporary lodgings for affected tenants.
- The initial focus of the regulations is on damp and mould, with further expansion to address additional hazards like excess cold, heat, falls, fire, electrical risks, and hygiene hazards.
- By 2027, the regulations will cover nearly all hazards defined by the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, excluding overcrowding.
- The Social Housing Regulation Act 2023 aims to improve safety, tenant involvement, and housing quality holistically.
- The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has been granted enhanced powers to monitor and enforce these standards.
- The government emphasized its dedication to these reforms during the 2023 General Election, focusing on rectifying longstanding issues like mould in social housing by formulating clear landlord responsibilities and deadlines.
- The law follows a "test and learn" approach to enforcement, with phased improvements over multiple years.
- The implementation of Awaab’s Law offers hope that tenants like Jane will no longer need to endure unsafe and unhealthy living conditions.
- Government response to the consultation on the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill outlined the changes.
- "Awaab’s Law: a new era for social housing regulation" summarizes the impact of the new regulations.
- Key components of the Social Housing Regulation Act 2023 can be found in the document titled "Awaab’s Law: what it means for social housing tenants and landlords".
- The RSH plays a crucial role in implementing and overseeing the new regulations.
- The unfortunate incident in Mansfield has sparked a conversation on the state of social housing, highlighting the necessity for legislative action.
- The introduction of Awaab’s Law serves as a significant step toward ensuring the well-being of social housing residents, particularly in areas such as workplace-wellness, health and wellness, mental health, skin care, and chronic diseases.
- Moreover, the reforms aim to improve living conditions in other industries related to housing, including manufacturing, retail, transportation, wealth management, and banking and insurance, ultimately leading to big wins in various aspects of social reform.
