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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Paul Whitelam & Laura Sharman

Disabled woman buying tent and log burner for garden so she can escape mouldy bungalow

A disabled woman is making plans to move into a tent in her garden to get away from her mould-infested bungalow.

Donna Chatterley first complained to her landlord about the mould in her bedroom in February but said the problem still remains.

The 55-year-old now has to live with mould in every room, lurking in cupboards, on walls and on furnishings.

Donna's kitchen cupboards are so mouldy that she has resorted to storing her food in the living room where she is forced to sleep on a couch.

Her GP said her living conditions are affecting her health and that they would support a move to more suitable housing.

Donna, from Tattershall in Lincolnshire, is bipolar and has PTSD on top of her mobility difficulties.

Donna first complained about the mould in February (Donna Chatterley / MEN Media)
Her GP said they would support her moving house (Donna Chatterley / MEN Media)

She is speaking out about her situation after a coroner found the death of toddler Awaab Ishak was due to a respiratory condition caused by mould in a housing association flat in Greater Manchester.

Despite the risk from exposure to loose asbestos, Donna has also considered moving into the garden shed, reports Lincolnshire Live.

"I’m buying a bell tent and a log burner so I can live in the garden as the living room where I have been sleeping is now starting to develop mould.

Donna stores her food in the living room away from the mouldy kitchen cupboards (Donna Chatterley / MEN Media)

"I'm even thinking of sleeping in the shed with asbestos falling from the roof.

"It'll be 30 years before the asbestos gets me but the mould in the house is affecting me right now."

Donna said her housing association Platform Housing Group concluded there was an issue with condensation.

She sought a second opinion from a private company and said its conclusion was mould in the bathroom was due to a lack of insulation.

Pictures show food appearing to have turned mouldy (Donna Chatterley / MEN Media)
The problem has now spread to every room (Donna Chatterley / MEN Media)

Donna escalated her complaint with Platform and she has further complained to the Ombudsman about the lack of resolution to the mould problem.

"Platform wanted to test the concrete floor for damp in the middle of the heatwave," she said.

"I suggested it would it not be better to come in the winter when it was wet and not dry."

Her neighbour Kerrie O'Brien, 48, also has mould and damp in the home she rents from Platform.

Donna was told there was an issue with condensation (Donna Chatterley / MEN Media)
Donna has also complained to the Ombudsman (Donna Chatterley / MEN Media)

Kerrie said she first noticed the problem about seven months ago and the mould is causing her health issues.

"Recently I could not even sleep," she continued.

"I had to go to my sister's house to sleep in her living room, otherwise it would make me too ill."

A spokesperson for Platform said: "We are sorry to hear of Mrs Chatterley’s situation.

"Unfortunately the customer cancelled a recent appointment.

"However, we now have a scheduled appointment where we will offer advice to her on how to manage humidity levels in her home."

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