A mother has claimed the mould in her council property has become a health risk – four years after she appeared in the Surrey Comet with the same problem.
Joanne Osborne, who lives in Fairmead Close in New Malden with her teenage daughter Lucy, said the mould was now severely affecting their lives.
The Surrey Comet reported Miss Osborne’s story in November 2010, when she moved into the flat and found the walls were covered in mould and mildew within weeks.
More than four years later, the 39-year-old claimed the mould was now significantly worse, destroying her furniture and forcing her to clean large parts of her home with bleach every week.
She is now taking the council to court in a bid to get re-housed. Miss Osborne said: “I have to sleep with my windows open because of the smell and the moisture.
Miss Osborne claims the damp in the flat causes the wallpaper to constantly peel off
“I have reached such a low point with everything that has gone on with the flat and I am now so worried about my daughter, who is taking her GCSEs.
“Her asthma has got much worse since she moved into the flat and she has gone from being a student who was predicted As and Bs in her exams to someone who is now predicted Ds and Es.”
Our story from 2010 when Joanne and Lucy first moved in
Miss Osborne is in band A on the housing register, meaning she has the highest priority for housing.
She has written countless letters to Kingston Council and has been in contact with MP Edward Davey.
Mr Davey has written to Kingston Council on Miss Osborne’s behalf stating: “The damp problem is getting worse and causing health problems for her daughter, who has had to take so much time off school that she is falling behind.
Miss Osborne claims the home is full of moisture causing mould and mildew
“I consider it very important now for the council to do everything possible to help her.”
Head of housing Darren Welsh said: “Given the very short supply of, and very high demand for, houses with two bedrooms, it is not unusual for someone in priority band A to face a wait of 18 months, or longer, if they bid only for properties of that type.
“I would encourage Miss Osborne to widen her bidding to include properties other than houses, in order that she may secure alternative accommodation sooner.”
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