Ryton couple tell of 'misery' after finding mould on…

Ryton couple tell of 'misery' after finding mould on toothbrush in their damp home

A Ryton woman has told of her horror when she found mould growing on her toothbrush in the bathroom of her Gateshead Council home.

Karen Pringle, who lives in the sheltered accommodation property with her husband Tony, said she knew the bungalow was damp for the whole six years they have lived there, but the bathroom discovery was the final straw in a long line of issues caused by mould, including:

A £500 leather biker jacket bought as a Christmas present for Tony having to be thrown away because it had become too mouldy to clean in the six weeks since Christmas;
Having to plan her wardrobe for her best friend's funeral two days in advance as everything she wanted to wear was covered in mould from her wardrobe;
Having to step straight into slippers after a shower to avoid stepping on mould on the bathroom floor;
Treating and painting the bathroom 19 times in six years to try to eliminate the mould.

"We have always had problems with mould as long as we have lived here," said Mrs Pringle, who is registered disabled and uses a wheelchair or mobility scooter when she leaves the bungalow. "About three years ago, a Gateshead Council contractor said the damp was caused by two outside walls that needed repointing, and since then, despite calling regularly, we have heard nothing.

Mrs Pringle says her mouldy toothbrush was the final straw (Newcastle Chronicle)

"As well as my mobility problems, I also have COPD, and the damp atmosphere is masking this so much worse. We pay full rent and council tax for this bungalow, the heating is on pretty much all of the time and the windows are opened regularly. I am pretty sure we could not do any more than we are doing. It is miserable living here. Everything is spoilt. I thought it was bad enough when I found mould in my underwear drawer, but when my toothbrush was covered as well, I just thought enough is enough.

"We are sick and tired of the situation now. It is not doing our health any good at all and we just want the work to be done and the damp to go away. I think we have been more than patient. We have lost a lot of possessions as they have just got too mouldy to revive. My husband's jacket was the third one we have had to throw away and they cost £500 each."

The couple have had to thrown three biker jackets away (Newcastle Chronicle)

And a Gateshead Council spokesperson agreed with Mrs Pringle that the repairs should have been carried out before now. "We are aware of the outstanding repair at the property and sincerely apologise for any stress and inconvenience that may have been caused to Mr and Mrs Pringle during the delays," he said.

"We will look to prioritise these works and will be contacting Mr and Mrs Pringle to provide a full update and schedule the necessary repairs. We will also discuss the damage to their possessions with a view to compensating them for their losses."

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