Private landlords should be contactable - report

A coroner has shared concerns after the inquest into the death of Luke Brooks

The government has been urged to take action over the lack of a private landlord register in England after the mould-related death of a 27-year-old man.

Luke Brooks died in 2022 from a respiratory illness after living in a mouldy privately-rented home in Oldham, but an inquest found the state of the home did not contribute to his death.

In a report sent in 2023 but only recently published, coroner Joanne Kearsley wrote to the government to say a lack of private landlord register could risk future deaths.

Michael Gove, responding at the time as housing secretary, said such a register would be included in The Renters (Reform) Bill, but the bill was not passed ahead of the general election being called.

Luke's family had begged the council for help to move out of the property

Mr Brooks' death was found to be caused by aspergillus pneumonia, a type of mould most commonly associated with rotting vegetation, such as a compost heap

But the inquest heard it was different to the black mould found at his home on Huxley Street in Oldham, where he had lived with his family since 2014.

They claimed the mould in the home was to blame for his death, but the coroner said the evidence was "not sufficient" to determine where his illness came from.

'Life-threatening'

The coroner, in her letter sent to the government in August 2023, said several issues had emerged from the evidence heard at Mr Brooks' inquest.

She said there was no register of private landlords in England, unlike other nations in the UK.

It means local authorities "could be hampered" by not having access to up to date information like addresses and contact details when concerns with private rental homes are raised.

In Mr Brooks' case, Oldham Council had been alerted about the state of the property by the family in 2021.

Information about landlords was "particularly important" when problems with a property are "potentially life threatening", the coroner said.

She highlighted issues such asbestos or dangerous items - such as inappropriate cord blinds in a home with children - or excessive damp as an example.

The coroner urged the government to address those concerns in a bid to prevent future deaths.