The protest outside Notting Hill Genesis office

PROTESTERS gathered on the doorstep of a housing provider on Friday complaining about damp and mouldy housing.

The demonstration in front of the Notting Hill Genesis offices in King’s Cross heard tenants and residents speak about rampant disrepair and “disgraceful” conditions in their homes.

It was organised after news of the death of 15-week-old baby Akram Mohammed, who lived with his family in a one-bedroom flat in ­Hampstead managed by Notting Hill Genesis.

Akram died in February and his parents, who will be represented by lawyers at St Pancras Coroner’s Court later this year, believe their living conditions were a contributing factor.

Akram died in February after experiencing breathing difficulties

Patrick Franco, the housing provider’s chief executive, said: “We will continue to support the family in any way we can during this difficult time.

“No determination has been made by HM Coroner as to the cause of Akram’s death, and it would therefore be inappropriate to comment further or to speculate at this time.”

The housing association, whose portfolio includes homes in Islington, contests claims about how many requests for help were made and what it did to respond.

Abdushafi Mohammed, Akram’s father, speaking at the protest

An inquest will be held in August to establish what happened to the baby boy.

The housing ­associ­ation’s offices were closed on the day of the protest for “maintenance works”.

But speakers said that the Mohammed family’s claims about the state of their housing were not unique. Savvas Panas, CEO of Islington-based charity the Pilion Trust, said: “The difficulty was they’re just a lovely, simple, honest family wanting to get on with their lives, and it didn’t fall on anybody’s ears, nobody came forward to help.”

Mould inside the Mohammed family’s flat

Protest organiser Suzanne Muna, secretary of the Social Housing Action Campaign (SHAC), said: “We think all public housing should come under democratic control and the only way to do that is to bring it back to council housing because actually that’s where it started, a lot of the stock was originally council housing.

“The tide is changing. People are no longer prepared to tolerate these conditions.”

Mr Franco said: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Akram Mohammed and extend our sincere condolences to his family, their friends and neighbours. We know that this is a complex situation and will continue working with the relevant authorities as they conduct their investigations.”