‘Aggressive mould’ put teenage girl in hospital
MUM TALKS OF ‘TOXIC LIVING CONDITIONS’ IN RENTED BUNGALOW
A MUM and her teenage daughter were hospitalised due to severe mould in their home, which also ruined belongings worth £5,000.
Amylee Pincott, 33, claims that “aggressive mould” created “toxic conditions” in the three-bedroom Mansfield bungalow she shares with her two daughters, aged 16 and 11.
The mould problem began after a leak in the roof occurred following the installation of a wet room by council contractors in September.
Despite numerous appeals to her letting agent and landlord, the mould spread throughout the house, for which she pays a monthly rent of £725.
In early November, her eldest daughter was diagnosed with fluid in her chest, nose, and ears due to the damp conditions. Later that month, the teenager was rushed to hospital, struggling to breathe.
In March, Amylee’s bedroom ceiling collapsed, and although it has been repaired, mould continues to grow.
Amylee, who suffers from immune conditions and a brain injury, is particularly susceptible to damp and mould. She attempted to combat the issue with mould spray and by ventilating and heating the property, but believes significant work, including the replacement of the roof, is necessary. She estimates the mould has damaged more than £5,000 worth of property, including clothes, shoes, and furniture.
Amylee said: “We’re in toxic living conditions with aggressive mould. They were made aware at a very early stage I have anaemia and no immune system and a brain injury.” “They are aware I have health conditions that make me more vulnerable than other people. I’m not angry, I’m sad more than anything I hate that I’ve had to watch my children go through this for such a long time.” “We’ve lost clothes, my daughter’s cheerleading outfits, shoes, my £3k sofa was covered in mould - there’s been at least £5k worth of damaged property. The letting agents said it was only ‘a bit of mould’ even though we had to call an ambulance.”
She noticed water seeping into the property through the roof after the wet room was installed in September, which she believes led to rapid mould growth. She claims she informed Whitegates Estates and Lettings, the letting agents, over the phone in September and started sending them pictures of the damage in October.
When no action was taken, she says she lodged a written complaint with the letting agents and landlord in early December following her eldest daughter’s hospitalisation. The landlord visited the property in January to evaluate the problem.
However, she alleges that no action was taken until March when her bedroom ceiling collapsed the day after she had bladder surgery. Despite ongoing repairs to the roof, Amylee insists that the work should have been done earlier.
She said that she “pleaded for help and empathy” but felt disregarded.
Three weeks ago, the landlord carried out a roof replacement on the property and treated the home for mould. However, she insists that the property still requires redecoration.
“I’ve pleaded for help and empathy, and we’ve had nothing it’s left me feeling like I’ve been walked over,” Amylee stated.
“Seeing me struggle has affected my children. I’ve been very patient and mentally it’s cost us so much.”
“They could have done more sooner, and they chose not too and that’s what is sad about the situation. Now they’ve had no choice but to start work on the property but it’s not finished, there’s still damage.”
A spokesperson for Whitegates commented: “When the tenant advised the work carried out by the council was not fit for purpose and had caused damage, we worked with the landlord to act to resolve this situation for the tenant.”
“It is disappointing that the tenant was not provided with good service from the original contractor which very unfortunately led to extensive damage with the flooding causing damp in the property.
“The landlord bore the cost to rectify the issue and to provide a safe environment for the tenant to reside and continues to support the tenant in this matter.”