Why do we have to live like this?
A mum is worried for the health of her one-yearold tot after she was hospitalised because of the mould-ridden council flat they are living in.
Natalia Jurek and her baby Sara are both ill from sleeping in the “disgusting” bedrooms at their home in Tarbert Avenue.
However, little Sara - who was born prematurely - became so run-down and developed such a serious cough that she had to be taken to University Hospital by ambulance.
Natalia, 32, said: “The hospital staff said this is because of the impact of the mould and fungus in my house.
“I showed the doctor a picture of the mould and he said this is why she’s so ill.”
The worried mum has complained t o Nor t h Lanarkshire Council about the state of the walls, and that the radiators are too small and badly positioned in the bedrooms.
However, she insisted that her concerns were being ignored and that housing inspectors didn’t consider the situation a priority.
Polish woman Natalia, who moved into the council house in June this year, got in touch with the Wishaw Press last week in desperation.
The tearful mum said: “When we first moved in the house was fine - because it was summer time.
“I never noticed any problems at first, but it got really bad after it got colder.
“The mould in the bedrooms is disgusting. It’s very dark and covers big areas of the walls.
“Both of us need to sleep in the living room, and I had to put all of my daughter’s furniture and clothes in the bin.”
Natalia moved to Scotland in 2015 and is studying administration and IT full time at Motherwell College.
She said: “I’m crying because I feel so alone in all of this. I don’t have any family or friends here or any place I can go.
“The council are doing nothing to help me, and I just feel it’s so unfair.
“I pay my rent like everyone else and I’m trying to care for my daughter as a single parent.
“It’s just so confusing and hard to accept that the council don’t want to help.
“I’m very worried about my daughter’s health so if nothing changes I will have to go back to Poland.
“I don’t want to do that because she will have a better life here.”
Wishaw councillor Jim Hume has been looking into Natalia’s case.
He said: “If it is a structural issue, it should be dealt with quickly and any internal remedial action can be carried out.”
After we contacted the council and highlighted the impact the flat was having on Natalia and her toddler, action was finally taken by housing chiefs.
Brian Lafferty, head of housing property at North Lanarkshire Council, said: “Following an inspection of Ms Jurek’s property, we have identified a number of measures needed to tackle condensation build- up which we will be treating as a priority.
“Our local homes team will be taking immediate action to remove condensation and mould from the bedrooms, installing an additional radiator and relocating other heaters to more appropriate positions within the home.
“We have also provided our tenant with energy advice on how to properly heat and ventilate the property to avoid condensation.
“We will be working closely with Ms Jurek to ensure condensation and moisture levels are monitored correctly.
“A further structural survey will take place to establish if there is any other underlying cause of the condensation in the property.”