Ratching Up the Blame Game

Black mould in his home, caused the death of a young boy, Awaab Ishak, in Rochdale, Lancashire. The Head of the involved Housing Association has subsequently been forced to resign. It appears, however, that, rather than doing something about prevailing unacceptable environmental conditions for poor tenants, the UK government is more intent on creating 'escape clauses' for dodgy landlords (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/nov/19/uk-tenants-face-blame-for-causing-toxic-mould-and-deadly-hazards-under-new-rules). The UK government is looking to 'overhaul' its Housing, Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). Environmental Health Inspectors carrying out HHSRS checks will be instructed to consider detailed 'behavioural factors' by the tenant. Tenants will be blamed for black mould (and other things), if their property is not judged to be properly heated and ventilated. Renters could be sanctioned for not running extraction fans or regularily openning their windows. They can even be accused of using insufficient heating for their poorly-insulated house/flat. The proposed new HHSRS rules will sanction people for exposing themselves to 'excessively low temperatures'. They suggest that people can do this, out of 'ignorance' or from a desire to 'reduce carbon emissions'. Presumably, the HHSRS haven't heard that energy costs are currently rocketing. Some people already have to choose between eating and heating. They are also implying that concern about a climate crisis is only a weird affectation. Whilst it is true that some tenants don't look properly after properties, slum landlords are a much more likely cause of poor living environemts. The proposed new rules give dodgy landlords a 'get out of jail' card.