'Mould in my flat is making my children ill'

A woman who said her housing association flat has been infested with mould for almost two years is calling for "a fresh start".

Laura-May, who lives in Abbots Langley, Hertfordshire, said the conditions in her home were affecting the health of her two children.

She said work carried out by Watford Community Housing Trust has not dealt with the cause of the problem.

The housing association said it was committed to working with her to "address any ongoing concerns".

Moving into a new flat in the historic village of Abbots Langley should have been a fresh start for Laura-May, her son and her (at the time) unborn baby.

But, soon after her tenancy began, in June 2024, she realised it was far from ideal.

There were "leaks, damp and mould, and messed-up skirting boards, spores and congested air", she said.

Naturally, she contacted the housing association, which arranged for a wall to be replastered, painted skirting boards and gave her a dehumidifier.

But, according to Laura-May, they did not address the actual problem, which she believed was a leak.

She added: "I was complaining to the council ongoingly, and I just felt I was repeating myself over and over again for them to just come out and do minimal works."

She said the problems started to affect the family's health, adding: "My son has a profusive cough, and I was pregnant, so I was frequently unwell with infections, headaches, migraines.

"I've never been susceptible to migraines until moving into this property.

"My son had rashes, and the list goes on - it's been a lot for me, and I'm tired."

She added that the family was moved temporarily to a hotel while work took place, but felt she was "forced" to move back into the flat despite work being incomplete and her baby being due.

"There was a shower leak, and they addressed that, but there was also a leak from under the bath," she said.

"My son's room was still smelling of damp, and there was still damp coming through into my bedroom."

The association has carried out more than one mould wash, but Laura-May said the process only removed visual evidence of the problem, and the mould had reappeared each time.

She now has both of her children sleeping in her bedroom because her son's room is uninhabitable.

She added that the family doctor had "stated that my daughter has nasal congestion and swelling [and] my son suffered with coughing, tight chests and stress".

Laura-May now believes that the situation has persisted for long enough and "it's time for us to be granted a new home, a home suitable for my kids and I for a fresh start".

Watford Community Housing Trust said: "We have carried out multiple repairs and surveyed the property again recently, and we can confirm that there is no problem with damp or mould, and there are no leaks in the property.

"We have also provided the resident with two offers of alternative accommodation, which have been declined. We always ensure that properties are suitable for the resident's needs before an offer is made, and we routinely carry out affordability assessments to make sure that residents can manage their tenancy successfully.

"We are committed to listening and will continue to work closely with the resident to address any ongoing concerns."

Laura-May said one of the properties offered to her was designed for a paraplegic person and had no bath, while the other was deemed to be unaffordable by the local council.

She is adamant that her flat is still inundated with mould and damp, and her concerns are "falling on deaf ears".

"They don't really care," she said.

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