Three-month-old’s death was not due to mouldy Notting Hill Genesis flat, coroner finds

The death of a baby boy in a flat managed by Notting Hill Genesis was the result of an infection likely acquired from his mother, according to an inquest.

Three-month-old Akram Mohammed died on 21 February this year after being taken to hospital in a state of cardiorespiratory arrest.

An inquest into the circumstances of his death was opened by St Pancras Coroner’s Court and the child’s father, Abdushafi Mohammed told media outlets at the time that he believed damp and mould in his Camden home contributed to Akram’s death.

He claimed that repeated requests for action to tackle the issue were not sufficiently acted upon by Notting Hill Genesis (NHG).

In a narrative conclusion to the inquest, released on Monday, assistant coroner Edwin Buckett concluded that Akram died “as a result of acute pneumonia caused by him acquiring Strep-B bacteria, probably from his mother”.

“This caused an unpredicted, fast, catastrophic decline in his health leading to his death in hospital on the 21.2.2025.”

Buckett’s report noted that Akram’s mother, Aiat Mohammed, had been identified as a carrier of the Strep-B bacteria, but that because of the speed of his birth, on 8 November 2024, there was “insufficient time to give the 4 hours of antibiotic medication to his mother as a preventative measure”.

However, he said the baby was “closely monitored after his birth and considered not to have developed a Strep-B infection”, before being discharged on the evening of 8 November 2024.

Akram subsequently developed snoring and breathing problems, but at a GP appointment on the day before his death he “appeared generally well and his chest was clear”. According to the report, he was “not considered to be unwell or requiring of hospital care”.

According to the BBC, the child’s father, Abdushafi Mohammed accepted the coroner’s findings outside the court.

Housing Today understands that NHG conducted a thorough mould wash of the Mohammed home in April 2024, but that further damp and mould issues were raised in October 2024.

Patrick Franco, chief executive of Notting Hill Genesis, said: “Our hearts go out to Mr and Mrs Mohammed on the devastating loss of baby Akram.

“Our commitment remains to provide all the support we can to the family and find them a permanent home that meets their needs now and into the future.

”We remain in regular contact with the family and their representatives, and will continue to do so until they are settled into a new home and for the rest of their time with us.” 

The family were moved into temporary accommodations after Akram’s death, and NHG are still working to rehouse them permanently.