Oral Answers to Questions

Sarah Pochin Excerpts

Monday 13th April 2026 Commons Chamber

[Mary Kelly Foy (City of Durham) (Lab)]

4. What steps his Department is taking to help tackle damp and mould in social housing.

[Sarah Pochin (Runcorn and Helsby) (Reform)]

17. What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that housing associations improve the quality of social housing.

[Chris Hinchliff (North East Hertfordshire) (Lab)]

22. What steps he is taking to improve standards for social housing.

--- Later in debate ---

[Matthew Pennycook]

I am very sorry to learn of the experience of my hon. Friend’s constituent. All housing association homes must be free from dangerous damp and mould. I note that her case arose before we brought the first phase of Awaab’s law into force on 27 October last year; now that we have done so, all social landlords are required to repair emergency hazards within 24 hours and to deal with dangerous damp and mould within fixed timescales.

[Sarah Pochin]

In my Runcorn and Helsby constituency, Riverside housing association is flattening 365 properties, demolishing them to build new homes. Residents have been left with no communication, no support and no number to ring—residents such as John and Barbara Wheldon, now in their 80s, who have lived in the same property for more than 50 years and are facing the trauma of that move without knowing where they are going. Will the Minister agree with me that housing associations have a duty of care to residents and that, where they fail in that duty of care, they should be held to account?

[Matthew Pennycook]

Social landlords are held to regulatory standards that are overseen by the regulator. I am sorry to hear about the experience of John and Barbara and others. If the hon. Lady would like to write to me with details about the case, I will happily look into it.