Riddled with mould
COMMISSION HOME LEFT TO ‘FALL APART’
A NORLANE family living in a house riddled with mould claims the state government has failed to adequately fix their decrepit commission home.
Shane Hamann has lived in the Camellia Crescent social housing home with his wife and young son Brandon for the past 4½ years, during which time he said mould had grown progressively worse.
Mr Hamann said rooms appeared to be infested with mould, leading to wall tiles falling off and exposing large holes.
Photos seen by the Geelong Advertiser reveal extensive mould across the bathroom’s ceilings and walls, as well as what appear to be rotting walls behind broken tiles.
Mr Hamann said the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing had failed to properly fix the issue and had instead placed laminate sheeting over the broken tiles.
“My bathroom is starting to fall apart and I waited 3-4 months for them to come out and fix one section with a ‘lami’ panel,” he said.
“They have not said what the problem is or addressed the cause.”
Mr Hamann said the action was inadequate and had left him fearing for his health.
“My biggest concern is that this is a health issue,” he said.
“I have a five-year-old son, I am asthmatic and a borderline diabetic and my fatherin-law has a heart condition.”
Mr Hamann said he had been led to believe the department did not want to spend money on the house.
“They told me to apply for a transfer to a unit, however I have two dogs and have set the yard up beautifully for my son,” he said.
“We have never caused any issues, we are up to date with rent and there have been no complaints.”
He said the department
had not guaranteed that any other property would be available.
Mr Hamann said he believed the department wanted the house to “fall apart” so it could be bulldozed.
A Victorian Public Tenants Association spokeswoman said mould and other maintenance issues could create “serious health and safety risks” for renters.
“Simply painting over the
mould will rarely solve the problem,” she said.
A Department of Families, Fairness and Housing spokesman said it had responded to the man’s complaints.
“The department has responded to multiple requests from the tenant and the necessary repair and rectification works have been carried out to the property,” he said.
“We will continue to work with the tenant to ensure the property remains in a good condition.”
The department spent $218.2m maintaining public housing properties last financial year and is obliged to assess and carry out urgent repairs — including mould removal — as soon as possible.
It is understood there are no plans to decommission or demolish the property.