Mold problems in Branford apartment?

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Mold problems in Branford apartment?

WTNH - New Haven,CT*

by News Channel 8's Jodi Latina

Posted Oct. 7, 2008

http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=9138400

Branford (WTNH) -- A Branford woman turned to News Channel 8 for

help because she says there is a health hazard in her apartment

building.

Coomes says a tree fell on her apartment building leaving a

hole in the roof which allowed rainwater to get in and cause mold.

She says she's been battling with her landlord for over four years

on the issue.

" It hurts me to see it's taking this long, " said Coomes.

Not getting any action, Coomes called News Channel 8. We saw the

patchwork of duct tapes and tarps outside. Inside, the ceiling is

discolored and she says the roof still leaks in the kitchen when it

rains. In her bedroom, Coomes showed us a wall where she believes

water has seeped in, resulting in mold.

Coomes contacted her landlord a number of times and only last month

did an maintenance worker show up.

The maintenance man scrapped the ceiling and when I came back he

said, ', we have a problem. The ceiling fell in,' " Coomes

recounted.

Coomes has a breathing issue and uses several inhalers on a daily

basis. She says the mold has made her quality of life worse.

" You don't want to fix the problem yet you want my rent? I deserve

to have my stuff fixed, " Coomes said.

News Channel 8 tried to contact the landlord for comment, but we

have not yet heard back.

The health department is also investigating.