An Edinburgh single mum says she has been forced to sleep in the same bed as her two children due to persistent damp and mould issues in her council flat.
Teresa Rae, who lives with her son Bryan, five, and daughter Toni, nine, at Craigmillar Court, suffers from multiple health conditions and says she is at breaking point due to constant issues within the property.
Over the course of the last few years, Teresa has taken pictures of extremely mouldy walls and windows before claiming her family had to come in and clean the whole flat for her.
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The 34-year-old also says she has been flooded multiple times since she started living in the high-rise block, with previously filmed footage showing a huge puddle of water in her hallway.
Since being contacted by Edinburgh Live regarding Teresa's claims, the City of Edinburgh Council confirmed they recently carried out a safety inspection and no traces of mould or dampness were discovered.
Teresa insists the main mould issue had to be tackled by her family before the council intervened. She was also reportedly forced to throw out dozens of toys and clothes belonging to her children as they were covered in mould.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live, she said: "I was brought up in these flats as a child and now I'm back here living in them again. I don't have good memories of growing up so it is increasingly difficult to live here.
"Ever since I moved in it has just been a constant issue with damp, mould and floods. I'm getting flooded up to five times a year. In the electricity cupboard the smell is unbearable. My family and I can't even wear most of our clothes due to the smell and my daughter is even having people say to her at school that she smells.
"There's mould at the back of all the walls and we're all currently sleeping in the same bed as the end bedroom which is my kids' room is the worst of them all. I've had to throw out their clothes and toys.
"All of my handbags actually have mould in them. The smell is the worst thing, though. The smell is the whole house is unbearable.
"Nothing is getting done either. They put panels over the mould in the cupboards and on the ceiling in the bathroom. Years ago I had all the walls re-insulated but it just keeps coming back."
Teresa says that herself and her children all suffer from separate health conditions, some of which doctors believe may be influenced by their living situation.
Her son Bryan has autism and ADHD and her daughter Toni struggles with respiratory problems which doctors have suggested could be made worse by the mould and damp in her home. However, the council say that the latest dampness survey detected no signs of damp or mould within the property.
Teresa continued: "I've got antisocial behaviour occurring in the stair and people falling asleep on my doorstep which is frightening my children. My kids are scared to go out.
"I've lost six stone due to a vomiting issue I have and I've had letters from a specialist to say I should he moved immediately three years ago. I've contacted local MP's and my children's school have also been involved but nothing has worked.
"We're falling apart and it has been like this for years, I really don't know what to do. There's cracks throughout the whole building so whenever it rains, it all comes flooding down to my house.
"I've also got a letter of proof that as a result of my vomiting issue, I've burnt my oesophagus and the lining in my stomach is also ruined. This was two years ago, so I thought that would have been enough to get us out of here."
Teresa says that doctors have prescribed her with medication used by cancer patients to help with her anti-sickness, but it is also bad for her heart. She has also had mental health nurses involved in trying to get her and her family re-housed.
Councillor Jane Meagher, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener said: "We strive to make sure that our tenants and residents live in safe homes where their health is a priority. We’ve carried out two dampness surveys at the property, including one last month, which showed no action is required.
"We have also supported the family by putting them in touch with Changeworks and Home Energy Scotland for independent advice on steps they can take to ventilate the property and on meeting heating costs.
"I would urge any tenant with issues around mould or damp in their home to get in touch with the Council so these can be investigated and appropriate action taken."
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