Black mould makes home life a misery

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Black mould makes home life a misery

Dec 29 2007

Daily Post - Llandudno Junction,UK*

by Steve Bagnall

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2007/12/29/black-

mould-makes-home-life-a-misery-55578-20294717/

A COUPLE have been advised to give up their four-bedroomed house and

declare themselves homeless – because it has grown too mouldy to

live in.

and bought the property in Meliden Road,

Prestatyn, for nearly £200,000 six years ago.

Nothing untoward showed up on the surveys but within weeks of moving

in huge patches of damp and mould began to appear.

Last night the pair described how the problem has made their lives a

misery and is affecting the health of their children.

In desperation, they turned to the Citizens' Advice Bureau which

referred them to homelessness charity Shelter Cymru.

The couple could not believe it when officials at Shelter advised

them to declare themselves homeless.

Now they say they just want someone to help them sort out the

problem – not have the roof taken away from over their heads.

Mr and Mrs , who are not currently in work, have two

daughters Kirsty, 13, Larna, 11, and a son , 27.

Mrs , 50, said: " We don't know where to turn. We can't use

front room at all. It is full of damp, it's all up the walls, all

the plaster is just flaking up right to the top. It's all black.

" We have a little cellar in the kitchen and that is getting really

bad, it's absolutely soaking.

" If you have packets of cereals in there, they are all soggy.

" Cans are going rusty in there and even the cake tins are having to

be thrown out.

" In the children's room they have got black mould all over, off the

ceilings and the walls, I have had to throw duvets away. It is just

horrendous with the kids at home over Christmas.

" We went to Citizens' Advice and they transferred us over to Shelter

who said we should declare ourselves homeless and get out, but you

can't do that, because we have a mortgage to pay.

" We can't live somewhere else and pay rent on that. For a damp proof

course it was £3,000 and that is going back six years.

" We just had a basic survey at the time, that's all we could afford,

but nothing was picked up. "

Mr added: " Water is dripping off the ceiling in the bedrooms

when the girls are trying to go to sleep.

" The only room we have is another living room but it is coming into

there now.

" We can't get any help from anybody, we have been everywhere.

" The lad has moved out of his bedroom altogether because he can't

sleep in there because of the damp, and we may have to do with the

same with the other two girls because they can't stay in there. "

Shelter Cymru refused to comment on the case.

But North Wales policy manager Pritchard said home maintenance

was an important point when considering buying a home.

" It is not just about buying the property, it is also about being

able to afford the maintenance and people should consider that. "

A Denbighshire council spokesman said: " We are aware of the problems

at this address and we have advised the occupants on numerous

occasions what steps can be taken to alleviate the problems.

" The council is currently not administering improvement grants as

resources are being used to administer disabled facilities grants,

which are mandatory. "

stevebagnall