Living in a home that is safe, secure, and healthy is a fundamental need for any family. Unfortunately, for one mother of four, the dream of a safe haven turned into a nightmare due to the extensive mould problem in her council flat that lasted more than 8 years.
The BBC recently reported that Glory Uhunarabona, a 45-year-old resident of Bermondsey, accused Southwark Council of neglecting the fundamental issue of mould in her dwelling for several years.
Despite being relocated into provisional housing on two occasions for the supposed resolution of the issue, she claimed that “the damp won’t go away”.
Southwark Council agrees that Ms Uhunarabona’s apartment is in an “unacceptable condition” however has remained unable to resolve the issues.
Mould in rental properties is not just an unsightly inconvenience; it is a serious health hazard, especially for children.
Ms Uhunarabona reported that her three children, who are 14, 13, and eight years old, have been constantly dealing with nosebleeds, an issue that began after they move into their ground-floor apartment.
“They cough and sneeze and blood just comes,” Ms Uhunarabona told the BBC.
“Seeing my children bleeding, I feel traumatised… I feel depressed for them.”
Doctors have contacted the council on a number of occasions about the negative impact the terrible conditions are having on Ms Uhunarabona’s eight-year-old asthmatic daughter, however little has been done.
How dangerous is black mould in your home?
The lack of care and attention paid by Southwark Council left Ms Uhunarabona feeling “abandoned” and her children “stressed”.
Mould had taken over the bathroom and one of the three bedrooms, forcing her and her family to be relocated twice while remedial works took place. On both occasions, not only did the mould return shortly after, but the workers left carpets ripped up and broken furniture strewn across the flat, she said.
A spokesperson for Southwark Council said: “These are unacceptable conditions for anyone to live in, and we apologise to Ms Uhunarabona and her family for how distressing it must have been for the mould to return for a second time when she went back to her property.
“There is clearly a specific issue with this property which our repairs teams will need to address to permanently resolve the mould and condensation.
“We will also look into all the matters Ms Uhunarabona has raised and speak to her about both her family’s housing situation and what has happened.”
