Jeff Charlton, the founder of Building Forensics and acknowledged as the UK’s leading mould and building-related illness expert, is calling for a full review of the government’s recent Awaab’s Law reforms.
Charlton has condemned the legislation as “not fit for purpose,” warning that unless significant revisions are made, the law could inadvertently place vulnerable tenants at further risk.
The legislation was introduced in memory of Awaab Ishak, who died tragically at the age of two in Rochdale in 2020 from a mould-induced respiratory illness. His family had repeatedly reported the issue to their landlord, but no action was taken. The law’s intention is to require landlords to resolve damp and mould problems within strict timeframes.
With more than 30 years of expertise, Charlton’s involvement in mould investigations intensified following his own daughter’s diagnosis of aggressive leukaemia, which he later linked to toxic mould in her flat. The discovery propelled him to highlight the connection between environmental contamination and chronic disease.
“I have written this in respect of the mum and dad because if we don’t get this right, and we haven’t, this is going to cause more harm,” said Charlton.
“For the good of the country, I am making this available for free because this needs to be seen and understood. The law is a nonsense. That is why I have written my report, ‘The Failures within Awaab’s Law,’ which examines all the failures that are unfortunately present.
“There were at least 270 flaws identified during the inquest into Awaab’s death, yet these were used to create the law. It is not worth the paper it is written on, and I want to shine a light on this situation,” Charlton explained.
A complimentary copy of Charlton’s report, “The Failures within Awaab’s Law,” is available by emailing awaab@buildingforensics.co.uk.
