Zane's Law: A vital step towards safer homes

Everyone deserves to feel safe in their home. The tragic death of two year-old Zane Gbangbola in Surrey in 2014 highlighted serious concerns about how naturally occurring gases and environmental hazards are identified, monitored and managed in and around residential communities.

‘Zane’s Law’ proposes measures to address the issue of contaminated land in the UK, prioritising the protection and safety of people and the right to a healthy environment. It represents an important opportunity to strengthen protection for residents, improve transparency and ensure lessons are learned from past tragedies. It has the potential to drive greater awareness of environmental risks, support more effective information sharing between agencies and provide greater reassurance to communities about the safety of the homes in which they live.

As a profession committed to providing safe, decent and sustainable housing, we recognise the importance of robust systems that identify potential risks early, respond effectively when concerns are raised and place residents' safety at the centre of decision-making. Housing organisations have a crucial role to play alongside regulators, local authorities and other public bodies in ensuring that hazards are understood and managed appropriately.

Supporting the calls for Zane's Law CIH's director of policy, communications and external affairs, Rachael Williamson said: "Everyone has the right to a safe, healthy home. CIH supports measures that strengthen resident safety, improve understanding of environmental risks and ensure people can have confidence in the homes and communities in which they live.

"The tragic circumstances behind calls for Zane's Law underline the importance of this. As climate change increases the frequency and impact of extreme weather and flooding, it is more important than ever that housing, environmental and public health systems work together to identify and address emerging risks, so that everyone can feel safe in their home."