New-Born Baby Dies – Family Blames Mouldy, Damp Housing Association Property For The Tragic Loss
Posted on 29th May 2025
The family of 15-week-old Akram Mohammed, who tragically passed away after living in a damp and mould-infested flat owned by Notting Hill Genesis housing association, believes the poor conditions contributed to his death. Akram, the family's third child, was less than four months old when he died in February 2025, having spent his brief life in a north London flat.
While the official cause of his death has not been revealed, photographs of their one-bedroom Camden home indicate persistent dampness long before Akram's birth at the end of the previous year. The family describes their experiences: “Black mould pushed the wallpaper away from the walls, and despite scrubbing with harsh chemicals and pleading for assistance from the housing association, the stains and dampness kept returning.”
An independent inspection conducted prior to Akram's birth found the landlord in violation of their duty to ensure the property remained habitable. Mold was detected on the walls or ceilings in the bedroom, living room, bathroom, and kitchen. Compounding their troubles, after reporting broken windows, a contractor came and sealed them shut, drastically reducing ventilation.
Akram's father, Abdushafi Mohammed, a car mechanic from Sudan, expressed the discomfort he felt as soon as he entered the flat: "You felt it in the air, in your chest." Aiat described a "very, very rotten smell, very strange smell" that made it unbearable to stay inside for long.
Their baby started to wheeze at night, and during the day, a rattle could be heard in his chest. Despite their concerns, they were told he would "grow out of it."
Savvas Panas, chief executive of the Pillion Trust Charity, who has been supporting the family for years, remarked, "The child was strong, he was big and very healthy, but he was drowning in fluids."
He mentioned that he had spent months raising alarm about the situation with the housing association and Camden Council. Abdushafi summed up their experience with a simple statement: "No one helped us."
Officially the cause of baby Akram's death remains "unknown" and an inquest has been established to investigate how and why he died.
Patrick Franco, chief executive of Notting Hill Genesis, stated, "We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Akram Mohammed and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and neighbours. We will continue to support the family in any way possible during this difficult time."
He acknowledged the complexity of the situation and affirmed their commitment to collaborate with authorities as investigations proceed.
The inquest to clarify the circumstances surrounding baby Akram's death is scheduled for August 2025.
For more info and other stories of poor living conditions in social housing visit https://www.thetrapped.co.uk/ and view the full ITVX documentary series