Mum-of-two pleads ‘I can’t go on like this’ as kids keep falling ill in mouldy council house
A MUM-OF-TWO has pleaded for help as she and her kids keep falling ill in their mouldy council house. Pauline Moran, who suffers with lung condition COPD, says the family “can’t go on like this”. And she claims she’s been fighting the local authority for two years after first discovering damp shortly after she moved […]
A MUM-OF-TWO has pleaded for help as she and her kids keep falling ill in their mouldy council house.
Pauline Moran, who suffers with lung condition COPD, says the family “can’t go on like this”.
And she claims she’s been fighting the local authority for two years after first discovering damp shortly after she moved in.
The situation has become so bad that it’s affecting the health of all three residents, with her daughter now prescribed an inhaler, the 42-year-old says.
Photos sent to the Paisley Daily Express show a winter jacket covered in thick mould, as well as black spores in the bathroom.
But despite that, she was sent a letter from the council in February which claims there is “no evidence to suggest there is dampness in the property”.
Pauline, who lives in Renfrewshire, Scotland with children Kayla, 15, and Patrick, 13, said: “I just can’t go on like this. It is affecting every aspect of my life.
“I have lost thousands of pounds because I have had to throw so many things away because of the dampness.
“I’m doing everything they have told me to do and nothing is working. The dampness is everywhere.
MISERY IN MOULDY HOME
“I’ve been trying to make my home nice for me and my kids, but I feel like I’m living in a storage facility now as I’m too scared to unpack things in case they get ruined.
“My daughter’s room is so bad that we had to throw out her mattress and the wallpaper is peeling off the wall.
“She’s even been put on a steroid inhaler because of it, but they just won’t listen to me. They’re saying that it is my fault. I feel like they’re making a fool out of me.”
Pauline moved to her home in May 2019 as part of a mutual exchange.
But mould quickly appeared on kitchen cupboards and furniture, and the problem is now so bad that even plates stacked in cupboards are becoming mouldy, Pauline said.
Meanwhile, corroded hinges in the kitchen have caused cupboard doors to topple off. One landed on Pauline, leaving her with a deep cut on her arm.
“I have lost count how many times I have called the council,” she said.
I can’t go on like this. It’s affecting every aspect of my life
Pauline
“I am constantly cleaning and scrubbing the place, but nothing I do is working. I have no idea what they expect me to do.
“They need to do something. I don’t want a new house. I just want this fixed so I can be settled with my kids.”
A spokesman for Renfrewshire Council said: “The health and well-being of our tenants is very important to us.
“As soon as Ms Moran contacted us about the mould in her home in October 2019, we investigated and got an independent survey conducted.
“A further independent survey was carried out in February 2021.
“These surveys showed the mould is caused by high humidity levels, which result in condensation build up in the home.
“Our repairs and maintenance officer carried out another survey in August 2020 which also confirmed this.
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“We have given Ms Moran advice on how to reduce the levels of condensation in her home and recently installed sensors to monitor humidity levels.
“Our housing services team has also carried out several repairs at the house, with the last taking place on July 21, 2021.
“Our team is always here to help, and Ms Moran can get in touch with them at any time for further advice and support to tackle the condensation levels in her home.”
