Thirteen children have tragically lost their lives from falls through windows in rented or temporary accommodations across England since 2019. This disturbing trend has resulted in alarming attention from healthcare providers and housing officials alike. In particular, the recent deaths of two-year-olds in Gloucestershire and south London, and the fatal fall of one-year-old Exodus Eyob from a seventh-floor window in Leeds in 2022, have highlighted critical safety issues within residential buildings.
On a hot sunny day, the window restrictor had been disabled. Tragically, this was just enough room for Exodus Eyob to fall to his death. Similarly, five-year-old Aalim Ahmed fell from the kitchen window of a 15th-storey social housing flat in east London in May 2024. This spring, we experienced an alarming reversal. It meant that almost one child a week was falling from a window during that period.
There’s been a dimming of the spirit by the added pain of accounts from their neighbors about shattered glass and neglected repairs. The reality is that the window survey carried out by Hammersmith and Fulham Council found six urgent repairs for windows. In all cases, the council responded very quickly, dispatching a team to survey these windows the day after residents complained.
The statistics reveal a grim reality: out of 14 cases this spring, more than half involved children living in homes where windows had not been repaired. Dr. Noellie Mottershead, a pediatric consultant, underscored the urgency. She mentioned that as of late there’s been a spike in very small kids coming into her hospital from falling out of windows.
“It’s the highest number we have seen, which is worrying us.” – Dr. Noellie Mottershead
In following investigations of these fall incidents, DOT found troubling safety violations. In four of those cases, there were no locks or restrictors present on the window. In an additional four cases where a lock or restrictor was used, the lock or restrictor was broken or disabled.
The impending tragedy families trapped inside unsafe, high-rise housing creates strong concerns regarding whether UK housing safety laws are sufficient and properly enforced. The UK government contradicted expectations with bold plans to reform the social housing regulatory framework. Going forward, if windows are allowed to fall into disrepair, they have to be replaced, regardless of their age. This modification is intended to make the workplaces of these workers safer and prevent another avoidable tragedy.
Richard Blakeway, the housing ombudsman, recently described the battleground that is repairs.
“Replacing windows can be complex and costly, but there can be no justification for the conditions some residents have endured.” – Richard Blakeway
Nationally, advocacy and litigation to remediate these life-threatening conditions is a working in progress. So we call on the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government to put children’s lives first. They shouldn’t have to let the reality of poor housing quality endanger them.
“No child’s life should be at risk because of poor quality housing, and we are determined to prevent future tragedies.” – Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson
Hammersmith and Fulham Council has taken a courageous step. It will allow them to spend more than £1 million a week to refurbish and repair the country’s aging housing stock.
“We’re investing more than £1m every week to refurbish and repair our ageing housing stock.” – Hammersmith and Fulham Council spokesperson
Housing associations up and down the country are going further and faster to improve safety measures in their properties. Director of policy and research at the National Housing Federation, Alistair Smyth, made his case for our optimism. He reiterated that housing associations want to ensure that everyone can live safely in their homes.
“Housing associations are dedicated to making sure all residents are safe in their homes.” – Alistair Smyth
Legal advocates are particularly concerned about the inherent dangers of residing in tall, multi-family dwellings lacking in essential fire precautions. Gareth Naylor, a housing lawyer working with community law charity Shelter, testified that a fall from that height would likely be fatal.
“If you fall out of one of those tower block windows you are going to die.” – Gareth Naylor
