Fears for baby's health in mouldy house

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Fears for baby's health in mouldy house

by JENNY MOODY

http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/burtonmail-news/DisplayArticle.asp?

ID=395636

Burton Mail - Burton on Trent,England,UK

A STANTON couple have spoken of the fears for their premature baby's

health after mould spread through their rented property.

Barratt, 22, and Breese, 28, of Woodland Road, say

seven-week-old Ebony has started coughing and wheezing at night.

Ebony was born five weeks premature, so her lungs are not properly

developed and doctors have said it could be a result of the mould

which has started growing in their semi-detached house.

However, despite repeated calls to the landlord and South Derbyshire

District Council, which recommended the company, they have still not

managed to be rehoused.

The mould originally started in an upstairs rooms but it is starting

to spread downstairs - despite being painted over with mould-proof

paint.

Ex-soldier Mr Breese, who is currently living on jobseekers'

allowance since being made redundant from his HGV driving job, said

that, despite paying £500 rent a month, they have been told they

cannot get any help from the landlord or the council.

He said: " The council has told me to go back to the Army as they

can't rehouse us and I'd get Army accommodation.

" It's got to the point where I don't know what to do.

" If it was just me and Beckie, then we could live with it but we have

the little one to think about and she's already wheezing at night.

Miss Barratt said: " I can't smile at the minute because of this, even

though it should be the happiest time in my life as I have just had a

baby.

" South Derbyshire District Council said they have received our

housing application but they are not obliged to rehouse us.

" They said there is not a problem living with mould or no heating and

basically said 'go away and rent somewhere else'. "

A district council spokesman said: " In order to help the couple, a

member of staff suggested a letting agency they may wish to use.

" The couple found a property through this external agency and have

now made a complaint about their living conditions.

" An environmental health officer visited the property yesterday to

assess the problem. "

The Mail was unable to contact the landlord for a comment.