The plight of a disabled man living in a home infested with horrific damp and mould divided opinions among ECHO readers.
Gerard Francis, 41, said his damp, mouldy home was causing his severe depression and rheumatoid arthritis to spiral out of control.
The ECHO found horrific conditions inside his ground floor flat on Wellington Road, Dingle, with green mould surrounding in the doorway and further patches of damp and mould crawling up the walls of the bathroom to "a ceiling that was essentially falling down".
READ MORE: Torus flat covered in green mould for which man pays £90 a week
After pictures showing the extent of the damage were shared by The ECHO, readers shared their own views online.
On The ECHO's website, Peter Kelly said: "The vast majority of these cases reporting damp and mould are down to the resident, but this is most certainly not!
"The extent and pattern of discoloration shows serious water ingress from above. Either the roof and windows of the flats above are leaking, or there is faulty water piping. It should not take a genius to discover which. The landlord and all those who work within its maintenance department should be ashamed."
Gerard, who has lived in the property since 2001, said: "I used to be really proud of the house, I had everything decorated really nicely but now I'm just embarrassed. I don't ever want to bring anyone to my house, not even my closest friends."
Social housing provider Torus, which owns the property, said Gerard had been offered temporary alternative accommodation - but Gerard said these did not meet his disability needs, as he requires a ground floor property with room for family to care for him.
The housing provider said it takes maintenance reports "extremely seriously" but has apologised for the fact that repairs on the property have not progressed.
User henoseyone said: "This is wrong on so many levels, you can’t be expected to pay for this type of housing! You wouldn’t put animals to live there so how is this right for a human? Feel for the poor guy."
User keepingpositive said: "That is totally unacceptable for anyone to PAY for this, this is substandard housing, a total health risk, and criminal."
However, others defended Torus' position. User cattyfishy said: "It is disgusting but the help is there for him they have offered solutions, he chooses not to take them. He has to help himself, temporary accommodation will do until its sorted, get care workers in if it's only one bed, or give him a temp extra care facility. There is no way Torus would leave a home like this, no way at all."
READ NEXT
Gang behind secret £1million amphetamine lab used Costco car park for dodgy dealings
Drug dealer's luxury life of Louis Vuitton bags and holidays exposed by 'pure chance'
Dad punched after his Aintree stag do now fighting for life in coma
Gang behind secret £1million amphetamine lab used Costco car park for dodgy dealings
Loose Women announce first live tour with a date in Liverpool
