A disabled woman says she has bought a tent and plans to live in her garden in an effort to escape her mouldy flat. Donna Chatterley, 55, says she complained to her landlord about the mould issue at the start of the year and it is yet to be resolved.
The 55-year-old claims the mould has gotten so bad that it is all over her home including her bedroom and the kitchen. She also says she has started storing food in her living room due to mould in her cupboards.
The disabled woman suffers from various ailments including PTSD, bipolar and has mobility issues. Donna is now also currently testing for Aspergillosis, an infection caused by mould, reports Lincolnshire Live.
She alleges that she is sleeping in her living room currently but the mould situation in there is also becoming unbearable. Donna said: "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.
"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."
The 55-year-old claims that she had previously spoken to her housing association, Platform Housing Group, who concluded there was a condensation issue. However, the homeowner was unhappy with their verdict and sought a second opinion from a private company.
They found the mould in her bathroom was caused by a lack of insulation. Upon this conclusion, she escalated her complaint with Platform alongside complaining to an Ombudsman.
Donna said: "Platform wanted to test the concrete floor for damp in the middle of the heatwave. I suggested it would be better to come in the winter when it was wet and not dry."
The issue is not solely in the disabled women's property however, with her neighbour, Kerrie O'Brien, claiming to be experiencing similar issues. She said: "Recently I could not even sleep.
"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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