I’ve shared bed with my son, 6, for years as black mould covered his wall… we’ve blocked off his room & spent £1,000s
A MUM claims she has been forced to share a bed with her six-year-old son due to “relentless” mould in her home.
Kelly George, 32, said her family had been left “trapped and helpless” at their River Street property in Leicester‘s West End for nearly three years.
The mother-of-three alleges that one of her children has been forced out of his bedroom for 22 months.
His now former room stands abandoned and covered in mould.
The situation is so bad Kelly claims the youngster has developed chest problems and needs the use of an inhaler.
She said: “I spoke to the doctor. He said it would be down to the mould situation.”
Roof leaks were first reported to Kelly’s housing provider Riverside Housing Association in July 2022.
But the situation had rapidly deteriorated by December of that year.
She said: “Water was pouring down the chimney breasts. You could see it running down the walls.
“Since then, the mould has spread everywhere. It’s on the walls, the ceilings, even our furniture.
“You can hear water physically pushing down in my son’s room, as you open that door, it’s just closed off now.”
The ongoing issues have forced Kelly to share her bed with her six-year-old son due to lack of space in the family home.
She has even spent around £2,000 of her own money in stopgap repairs, but Kelly feels she’s fighting a losing battle.
“I’ve replaced the floors. I’ve replaced the wallpapers. I’ve replaced the beds,” she said.
“I know it sounds stupid, but I was getting so down, just sitting there and looking at the walls [with] mould on.”
Kelly’s attempts to engage Riverside Housing Association have hit a wall of what she calls “lazy, ignorant, and poor” responses.
The ongoing issues have also taken a toll on the family’s mental health.
Kelly described feeling “trapped and helpless” in her own home.
She approached Leicester City Council for help but was told they said they “couldn’t assist tenants of housing association homes“.
Scaffolding has now been erected at the home and a safety inspection carried out.
How to tackle mould?
What causes mould?
Mould flourishes where there is condensation, which occurs when warm air hits a cooler surface and creates moisture.
Nicholas Donnithorne, UK technical services manager at property preservation specialists Peter Cox, explained that mould spores are present in the air year round and spread when dampness is present for six hours.
In the home this dampness is normally caused by condensation, which occurs while showering, drying clothes or cooking.
Mould can grow anywhere in a property and can be identified as black speckled marks or grey growths on window sills, woodwork, painted walls, ceilings, wallpaper or fabric.
How can you prevent mould building up?
Combatting mould is relatively simple, particularly if you’re able to increase ventilation in affected areas.
Mr Donnithorne said: “Fortunately, issues with condensation can be addressed.
“More often than not, just making sure that there’s adequate ventilation in your property will solve the problem.”
He advised:
- Open a window to allow humid air to escape as often as possible
- Close a door when showering or cooking
- Use extractor fans and put lids on pans
- Avoid drying clothes indoors
- Wipe down windows each morning if condensation has formed
- Check washing machines and tumble dryers have been plumbed in correctly
- Carry out tasks such as painting, decorating, mopping floors and cleaning windows on warmer days
When to call in the experts?
If mould becomes a reoccurring problem you may need expert help.
Mr Donnithorne stressed the importance of finding the root cause of the problem to prevent it from reoccurring.
He said that treatment with biocidal products, which contain active
agents designed to eradicate or inhibit the growth of unwanted organisms, may also be needed.
The expert added that for persistent mould problems there are several specialist treatments available, such as the installation of positive pressure and heat recovery ventilation systems.
A spokesperson for Riverside Housing Assocation said: “We want to sincerely apologise to Ms George and her family for the delay in fully resolving the leak in her home.
“The length of time Ms George has had to wait is unacceptable and falls far below our usual standards.”
The housing association acknowledged previous attempts to address the issue, including mould treatments, but revealed that more extensive work is now required.
This isn’t just about property damage anymore. It’s destroying our lives.
Kelly George
The spokesperson added: “Following expert assessment, it has been determined that a full roof replacement is required, and works have now begun.”
Riverside also confirmed immediate plans for further inspections of the damp and mould situation saying it was also arranging temporary housing for the family.
The association has committed to reviewing its handling of the case adding it wanted to “understand what went wrong and why we did not act sooner”.
A spokesperson for Leicester City Council said: “There appears to have been some miscommunication here, as although we expect large registered social landlords to sort out disrepairs themselves, we can take enforcement action if needed.
“In this case we have been in touch with the tenant and the housing association and understand that the work needed is scheduled for next week.”
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