A younger mom who was pressured to dwell in a mould and damp ridden housing affiliation flat says she cried herself to sleep at evening not understanding if her one 12 months outdated daughter “was going to wake up the next day”.
Shelby Atherton, 20, moved into her two-bedroom flat in Rochdale in October 2023.
But just some weeks later she reported severe issues with mould and damp to her landlord Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH).
Ms Atherton advised Sky News: “I was in hospital because of it. Constantly choking and being sick. I didn’t eat for six, seven days straight, once the mould got that bad.
“I ended up in hospital on steroids and antibiotics due to how unhealthy the mould had affected my chest.”
The rot unfold to virtually each room within the flat and destroyed all Ms Atherton’s furnishings, carpets and garments.
“I simply lay there on my mattress simply crying as a result of every part is simply gone and ruined.
“I’ve only just moved in, trying to make it a home, and my little girl, like our first proper home.
“I attempted to make Christmas good for her and every part’s simply ruined. I’ve misplaced all my garments. I’ve misplaced my furnishings, my daughter’s mattress. She’s not even acquired a mattress to go residence to.”
RBH advised Sky News: “We are sorry that Ms Atherton has experienced these issues with her home, and we reiterate our apology to her. We are working hard to carry out the repairs needed as quickly as possible. Our number one priority is to safeguard the health and wellbeing of our customers.”
RBH additionally managed the property the place Awaab Ishak lived. The two-year-old died in December 2020 after affected by a severe respiratory situation brought on by extended publicity to mould.
His dying has prompted the federal government to suggest “Awaab’s law”: new authorized necessities that would see social landlords taken to courtroom in the event that they fail to research tenant issues inside a fortnight.
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They can even be compelled to start restore work inside per week and attend emergencies inside 24 hours.
In response to the transfer, RBH mentioned: “This was a tragic case that resulted from failings at RBH and we are very clear it should never have happened. We remain committed to our promise to learn from what went wrong and put things right.”
Ms Atherton and her daughter have been relocated into short-term lodging in a neighborhood resort whereas restore work is carried out on her flat.
She is all too conscious of the tragic consequence in Awaab Ishak’s case which has left her afraid of returning to the flat.
“My little girl could have gone without me. I was that poorly where I genuinely thought I was going to die, like I couldn’t breathe.
“So I simply do not know. I’m simply hoping that it does get sorted and we will make it into a house once more.”
Source: information.sky.com”