A Scots mum has been left fearing for her asthmatic son’s health after a chronic damp problem has left her council house ‘covered in mould’. Laura Nicholson claims the long-running issue has left her walls wet to the touch and black with fungus which has spread to bedding, clothing and furniture throughout the Motherwell property.
The 37-year-old told how son Kayden, 12, has been in hospital three times in recent weeks with breathing difficulties, which she believes are being made worse by the living conditions. Council chiefs say they are actively helping the mum-of-three but were unable to find mould at the property last week due to Laura cleaning it daily for the health of the family.
Laura explained: “I’m crying out for help and I feel like I’m getting nowhere. It’s like I’m being ignored and my children's lives are at risk. I don’t know where else to turn with this and it's affecting our health.
“I am at my wits end trying to protect my children. The dampness started when we moved into the property six years ago but it wasn’t as bad then.
“As the years have gone, it’s gotten worse but it has been ridiculous since last year. The carpets are wet and the walls are black. My son has been at the hospital three times in the last month and half with his asthma. He’s been sent home from school.
“The damp just triggers him. I’ll see him walking to the bathroom and he’s having to catch his breath because of the dampness.
“I’m actually sleeping in the living room with my four-month-old in her next-to-me bed. But her mattress is damp. I’ve had to bin my couch because it was wet.
“You’d run your hand down the back of it and it was wet. I’ve had to bin the kids’ mattresses because they were all mouldy. I’ve been told to open the windows and not to put things against the walls.
“Repair work has been carried out over the last six years but it just keeps coming back. They just cover it up with paint which is fine until it comes back.
“My daughter’s always complaining of not feeling well. My wee one’s health visitor is writing a letter because she’s seen it first hand. I just can’t have the kids sleeping in this. It’s affecting all our health and I already suffer from depression and anxiety.”
Laura, who lives with Kayden, Mia, 10, and River-Amari, four-months, added: “I got an email from the council last week telling me they’d been trying to contact me and that someone was coming out but no one arrived.
“I called them up to rearrange it and they came on Friday after I’d already cleaned. This house is making my kids ill, and I can no longer keep putting their health and life at risk with asthma attacks and dampness into their lungs.
“I've done everything I can to try and stop the dampness but it's in the walls no matter how much you paint, wipe or clean.
“I was meant to get another house when my boy turned nine because of North Lanarkshire Council rules that opposite sex can’t share a room. He’s now 12 and my wee girl is 10.
“They’re still sharing a bedroom because the other room is unliveable - the walls are black.”
A spokesperson for North Lanarkshire Council said: “We are working with Miss Nicholson to resolve concerns which have been raised about condensation dampness in her property and are treating this as a priority.
“We managed to visit the property today (10 November) after several attempts were made to gain access over the last few months. No mould was found in the property during our visit; however, we will work on areas which Miss Nicholson identified.
“We will carry out work to reseal and remove staining from windows. We are also providing practical advice and support to help properly heat and ventilate the property.
“Our housing allocations team will be in touch with Miss Nicholson, when a suitable property meeting her housing requirements and areas which she has identified becomes available.”
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