Launch of a social media advertising campaign to encourage tenants to complain about poor social housing

The campaign comes after the tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who died in December 2020 of a respiratory illness caused by mold in his home Ads using images of black mold and leaky ceilings will run on social media platforms (

Image: DLUHC)

Tenants will be encouraged to complain about poor quality and unsafe social housing under a government campaign launched today.

Ads using images of black mold and leaky ceilings will run on social media platforms.

The 'Make Things Right' campaign encourages residents to complain to their landlord before going to the Housing Ombudsman.

The advice will be broadcast on dozens of commercial radio stations, as well as stations broadcasting in Arabic, Polish, Bengali and other languages.

Users of apps and platforms such as Spotify, Amazon Music, and Nextdoor will also see and hear the ads.

This comes after an outcry following the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who died in December 2020 of a respiratory illness caused by mold in his home.

The Mirror campaigned to end housing hell after the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak

The government has since proposed the Awaab Act, which requires public housing landlords to address reported risks such as mold in a timely manner or relocate tenants to safe accommodation.

This is part of the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill – which is about to become law – which will include new powers to impose unlimited fines on landlords who fail to meet standards.

Social housing campaigner Kwajo Tweneboa said: "What we have learned is that social housing in the UK is far from what it should be, and tenants have been significantly abandoned while enduring terrible living conditions.

“It is clear that things need to change, this campaign is the start of that. The campaign makes it clear that the problems of dilapidation, from damp and mold to collapsed ceilings, need to be addressed.