A woman fleeing domestic violence says she was devastated when her fresh start in a new home turned into a mould-filled nightmare.
Jayne Atkin, whose name we have changed to protect her identity, moved into the flat in Ryton, Gateshead, in 2021, after fleeing her previous home when her ex-partner found out where she was living, and looked forward to a second chance near to her brother and grown-up daughter and putting her past behind her.
But she says within months of moving in, black mould started to develop in her bedroom, and she soon found that she struggled to keep on top of it, spending half her income on cleaning products and heating in an attempt to keep it at bay. The mould covers the ceiling and walls in her bedroom and is now starting to develop in the sitting room. Gateshead Council fitted new loft insulation in August 2022, but Ms Atkin said this has made little or no difference.
