You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles
Greater Manchester housing providers urged to apply for £15m damp and mould fund
Social housing providers in Greater Manchester are being invited to apply for a new £15m government fund to tackle issues such as damp and mould.
The Social Housing Quality Fund has opened today for applications aimed at boosting the standards of up to 1,500 homes in the region.
Ged Cooney, lead for housing at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), branded it a “welcome first step” in helping landlords tackle health hazards.
READ MORE
The fund was announced by housing secretary Michael Gove in January as part of the widespread response to the death of Awaab Ishak. The two-year-old died in his Rochdale Boroughwide Housing-owned home in 2020 due to prolonged exposure to mould.
In February, the Regular of Social Housing estimated that “notable” damp and mould affects around 160,000 homes across the UK.
In Greater Manchester, housing associations, local authorities and ALMOs can apply for the new fund, but grants must be match-funded by “at least” 25%.
Landlords that secure the funding must report monthly on “delivery progress”, the GMCA said. All funds must be spent by 31 March 2024.
Mr Cooney added: “I would strongly encourage any housing provider who might benefit from this fund to submit an application.”
The deadline for applications to the funding is 14 July and an online information session for prospective applicants is being held this Wednesday.
The West Midlands is also expected to get the same level of funding to improve housing conditions, based on Mr Gove’s speech earlier this year when he said £30m would be shared between the two regions.
Sign up for our asset management newsletter
Already have an account? Click here to manage your newsletters
