The mother of two has been told to ‘pay out of pocket’ for repairs by Haringey Council, reports Olivia Opara

A mother with disabilities is anxious about how she and her family are going to make it through winter with ongoing mould and damp issues in their home.

Tamara James has lived in a council flat on Winkfield Road, Wood Green, for eleven years and had first reported issues with mould and damp in 2012. Since then, she says, the problem has only gotten worse, resulting in Tamara having to constantly replace clothes and possessions that keep getting damaged by the mould. Tamara says she now keeps all her belongings in bags and suitcases after having to break down her wardrobes and cupboards due to the mould causing damage to the walls in her flat.

Tamara told HCP that last summer Haringey Council had said it would fix and repair her flat after “washing” and “plastering” the walls but nothing has been done since.

Tamara said: “The council now expects me to pay out of pocket to repaint it and I’m like how can I afford that? I can’t keep buying new plates, new headboards and new clothes for my daughter all the time – this is ridiculous.”

According to Tamara, the flat has had ongoing issues with the gutter on the roof of the building which causes leaks when it rains, leading to electrical and drainage issues. There have also been security issues within the building, with doors and locks which the residents of the building have complained about numerous times.

Tamara said: “When my daughter went to use the bathroom one day, we looked into the bathtub and there was a lot of gunk that had leaked from the ceiling.

“The council said that it has put me down for moving but nothing has happened and to see myself in this situation again – It is a nightmare and I am not sure what else to do. ”

With winter approaching, Tamara fears how she and her family are going to manage with the mould and damp getting worse due to cold weather. Tamara says her biggest concern is her health, as she suffers with asthma alongside disabilities that affect her spine.

Tamara says her asthma has become increasingly unstable over time as a result of the mould which has led to her being admitted to hospital numerous times. Tamara told HCP that her GP is now looking into administering her an at-home ventilator this winter to help her breathe and alleviate her asthma symptoms.

“I have to sleep with my windows open because it is hard to breathe when I am sleeping,” said Tamara. “It becomes really stuffy and it is difficult when it’s winter. Now that it is summer, when it’s hot, we have flies and bugs coming out of the walls from the damp and the mould.”

Tamara added that her son and daughter, who has physical and learning disabilities, are struggling to cope with their living conditions as it has become increasingly hard for her to keep up with her daily responsibilities.

“My quality of life is poor, it’s very very poor – I shouldn’t be living like this,” said Tamara. “We’re just left hanging, not knowing who to go to except just to continue filing complaints all the time.”

A Haringey Council spokesperson said: “We have visited the property on several occasions in recent months, so it is not true to say we have not carried out any repairs since last summer. We would never ask our tenants to undertake or pay for repairs.

“Our teams visited back in December and March this year and have undertaken extensive repairs that includes fixing the leak to the roof and the extractor fan, as well as repairing the door entry phone system.

“We have already carried out a damp and mould wash and a surveyor visited to prepare a comprehensive schedule of work.

“We are committed to undertaking all necessary repairs and have spoken to the resident who has agreed to provide access for further mould treatment to be carried out this month.”

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