A coroner has issued a stark warning to a major London property landlord following an inquest into the tragic death of a six-month-old baby boy in a mould-infested flat in Hackney.
Inquest reveals shocking living conditions
An inquest at Poplar Coroners Court on Monday, December 1, heard that six-month-old Abdullah Ali died in July this year from encephalitis, a rare but serious brain inflammation resulting from chicken pox. While Assistant Coroner Melanie Sarah Lee ruled the death was from natural causes, the investigation exposed the appalling state of the family's privately rented home.
Bodycam footage from police officers who visited the one-bedroom property revealed "knee-high, thick and black" mould climbing the walls. The flat, owned by Granddwell Estates, was severely overcrowded, with Abdullah's four siblings, aged between two and five, sharing a double mattress on the living room floor.
Landlord with London-wide portfolio under scrutiny
The coroner's report detailed a history of disrepair at the address, including unresolved window problems and a mouse infestation dating back at least four years. Although the damp and overcrowding were not deemed factors in Abdullah's death, Ms Lee formally warned the landlord to address the disrepair in this flat and its other properties to prevent future risks.
Granddwell Estates operates across numerous London boroughs, including Hackney, Camden, Brent, Ealing, Croydon, Enfield, and Lewisham. On its website, the firm states it is "passionate for investment yielding above the market rate." The company has 56 days to respond to the coroner's Prevention of Future Deaths report, published on December 1. The Local Democracy Reporting Service contacted the firm for comment but received no response.
Council highlights housing crisis and enforcement action
The inquest also examined Hackney Council's role. Solicitors for the council attended the hearing, where the coroner sought clarity on homelessness support and social housing policy. The family had requested a council move due to the flat's condition but were refused as they had not lived in the borough for the required three years.
A Hackney Council spokesperson expressed deep sadness at Abdullah's death and stated: "Our officers had visited the property earlier this year and issued a notice requiring the landlord to address the disrepair and mould... the conditions in this privately rented home were clearly unacceptable."
The spokesperson highlighted the acute housing demand in the borough, describing it as "at crisis point," but affirmed the council is expanding proactive enforcement through landlord licensing schemes to hold landlords accountable and prevent similar situations.
