Tens of thousands of rented homes 'at least' fear living in unsafe conditions, admits Michael Gove

The minister's admission comes just a week after a coroner ruled that two-year-old Awaab Ishak died in 2020 after prolonged exposure to mold.

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Gove: Thousands of properties not in the state they should be

Tens of thousands of 'at least' rented homes are considered unsafe, minister Michael Gove has revealed.

The upgrade secretary's admission came just a week after a coroner ruled two-year-old Awaab Ishak died in 2020 after prolonged exposure to mould.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Mr Gove said: 'I fear there are tens of thousands of properties that are not in the condition they should be.

He said a "significant number" of properties - some built in the 1960s and 70s - are in poor condition while others have been "poorly maintained and just need to be properly repaired and properly maintained".

When asked if he was personally 'embarrassed' by the tens of thousands figure - after 12 years of Tory rule - Mr Gove said he was 'angry'.

Two-year-old Awaab Ishak died from prolonged exposure to mold (

Picture:

MEN Media)

In 2016 Tory MPs voted to reject a Labor amendment requiring landlords to make their homes ‘fit for human habitation’.

Later today, Mr Gove will speak with the Rochdale Housing Association, which owns the flat rented by Awaab Ishak's parents.

The Cabinet Minister has also taken the decision to block £1m of funding to Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) which he was due to receive to build new homes.

He said, "I'm going to Rochdale later today to talk to them and others about the situation there.

"But my view at this time is that this organization does not deserve to get this additional funding."

"I'm going to Rochdale later today to talk to them and others about the situation there.

But my view at this time is that this organization does not deserve to get this extra funding."

Lisa Nandy, Secretary of Labour's Shadow Leveling Up, said: "It is right to stand up to failing social landlords, but there is no excuse not to show the same respect for the millions of private tenants who live in squalid and dangerous conditions and are expelled if they dare to complain.

"After years of broken promises, t...