Mouldy flat is damaging our health, says family

A family living in a housing association flat in Leicester have said recurrent damp is giving them asthma and despite repeated complaints the problem has not been resolved.

Sirus Kubadi, 42 and his wife Sawen Hussein, 28, have a one-month-old child, who they say is now also suffering with respiratory problems.

The couple said the situation had been made worse because rats crawl through their ground floor windows if they try to ventilate their home.

PA Housing, which is responsible for the block in Dover Street, said it had been working with the family to solve the problem and had also offered advice on the rehousing process.

Kubadi said they had also been given the chance to swap flats with another tenant but their conscience prevented them from moving out and leaving someone else with the same problem.

Hussein said despite multiple attempts, PA Housing had failed to come up with a permament fix for the damp.

"They've been and painted here five times but after a couple of months the damp is back," she said. "They're just hiding the mould and damp, not treating it.

"The mould has damaged my food, carpet, bed and curtains, everywhere."

She said she had needed hospital treatment for her asthma and was given doctors' letters calling for the situation to be resolved as an "urgent" matter.

The most recent of these letters was submitted to the housing association in May.

"I'm worried, this property will be affecting the baby. Now he's sneezing and he's only four weeks old," she said.

The couple said they had been informed by PA Housing they would need an occupational therapy report showing how the flat was affecting their health before they would be considered for a permanent move.

However, they said the provider had not given them any information on how to obtain a report.

In the meantime the couple have put dehumidifying bags in all of their wardrobes, water collectors in their kitchen cupboards and a humidifying machine in their bedroom, which they said completely fills with water every day.

On the possibility of swapping flats with another tenant, Hussein said: "We might be better off if we swapped, but I couldn't live knowing someone else was suffering what we suffer now."

The couple say they have the support of their MP Shockat Adam and have put the matter before the Housing Ombudsman, which is still considering the case.

"We have contacted PA Housing by email, by phone, by everything - they don't care," said Kubadi.

Charles Ellis, PA Housing's executive director of asset management, said: "Since being made aware of damp and mould in the residents' home, four surveyors have attended over the past 13 months to identify and treat the cause of any damp and mould.

"However they are now refusing access to allow us to carry out further damp and mould treatment, stating they would rather be rehoused than have the necessary work done to their home.

"They have also refused an offer of temporary accommodation which would allow us to complete the work and resolve any further repairs that are impacting the family."

In response, Hussein said after several visits which had not resolved the issue, they were unwilling to keep repeating the same treatments.

She also denied they were refusing to allow people into the property.

Ellis added: "We have provided them with advice on how to seek rehousing, including through the local authority.

"Following residents' reports, we have arranged for pest control to carry out a full inspection and take any action if evidence of rats is found.

"We hope we can work with Mr Kubadi and Mrs Hussein to resolve their concerns."

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