‘I need somewhere safe for me and my daughter’ Mum worried over damp home
DESPERATE mum-of-one Stacie Slender says she doesn’t feel safe in her own home thanks to ongoing problems with damp.
The 35-year-old claims she has seen water running down the walls, which now have permanent marks on them.
Miss Slender moved into the property in Upper Park Street in Fairview just before Isla was born, and spotted problems within weeks.
She said: “At first it seemed okay. A couple of weeks later I realised that it was not good when I saw water running down the walls.
“It has been getting worse and one of the plug sockets have been full of water before now.”
With damp an issue all year round, Miss Slender’s main worry is for Isla. She said: “I can not even begin to make a home for her.
“I was told by a surveyor just a couple of months after I moved in that the house was not suitable due to the damp and that I needed to move out so the work could be done.
“I have also been told that there is a massive water works problem under the house that needs to be sorted properly. I mean they said we would need to move out and the floors dug up back to brick, to then fix the problem.”
A spokesperson from the housing association says that the house is habitable and that Miss Slender has been offered help and support, including dehumidifiers. Head of service delivery (Midlands) at Home Group Claire Lees said: “We’re aware of the problems our customer is facing and are working closely with them to find a solution as quickly as possible. “The house is not uninhabitable but we need to do more investigative works to get to the heart of the issue. This means the customer will have to temporarily leave the property in order for the work to be carried out but they have so far been unwilling to do so.
“We have ordered and offered to pay for dehumidifiers and their running costs to combat the problem but unfortunately this was also not accepted by the customer.
“We have worked with local partners and offered several alternative properties which have all so far been rejected. We have also secured funding for a deposit on private rented accommodation and with the help of this the customer is in the process of searching for a new home.
“The condensation upstairs is a result of the customer not ventilating and heating the property correctly and we have advised them on the best way to do this. We’re committed to finding a solution for our customer and will continue to explore all the different options available to us.”
For Miss Slender, she just wants an end to the problem. She said: “I do not feel safe keeping my daughter here.
“I really need somewhere safe for me and my daughter.”
We’re aware of the problems and are working closely with them to find a solution. Claire Lees