I live in a house of horrors

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I live in a house of horrors

Friday 5th September 2008

Swindon Advertiser - Swindon,Wiltshire,UK*

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/3651008.I_live_in_a_house_of_

horrors/

A RESIDENT has described her council property as a `house of

horrors' after mould built up on her walls and her kitchen ceiling

caved in due to a water leak.

Swindon Council says it will inspect the house as soon as it can.

Waddington, 36, moved out of the house in Poplar Avenue,

Pinehurst, last week, claiming it was uninhabitable.

The mum-of-three feared for the health of her eight-month-old baby

Levi and felt she had no choice to go and stay with relatives in the

town.

She has complained to Swindon Council for more than a year about the

condition of the house, but each time inspectors told her it was

condensation and not mould.

" This mould is toxic – we've all been ill from it, " said .

" When I smelt mould in the baby's hair that was the final straw and

we moved out.

" The brickwork on the outside of the house isn't sealed properly.

Damp is seeping in and mould is growing.

" There's also a leak somewhere as the kitchen ceiling has fallen

through.

" I thought that could happen as the electrics kept fusing.

" I don't feel safe – it's dangerous. It's like a house of horrors.

" I want to get on and live here but it's difficult with so much

going on. I've had nothing but trouble since I moved in two-and-a-

half years ago. "

Her family moved from Toothill as her flat wasn't big enough to

accommodate her family.

She hopes the problems will be sorted out so she can move back in as

soon as possible.

believes health and safety checks need to be carried out and

an Environmental Heath officers should make an inspection.

" I'm worried about the electric box in the kitchen as it's not

covered, " she said. " This should be a family home but it's a million

miles away from that at the moment.

" I haven't had any hot water for months because of a leak.

" The place is a mess and someone needs to give me answers. "

A spokeswoman for Swindon Council said: " We will be inspecting this

property as soon as possible to ascertain what has caused the

problem with the kitchen ceiling.

" This may or may not be related to the damp and condensation issue,

which we have previously addressed by fitting an air brick and

offering advice to improve ventilation.

" In addition, we removed mould growth on the walls. Until an

inspection is carried out, it is not possible to know what work

needs to be done and how long this will take. However, we sympathise

with the family's situation and will take appropriate action

promptly. "