South London Couple Endure Four-Year Battle with Damp and Mould
A couple in Greenwich faces ongoing mental distress from persistent damp and mould issues in their council flat for four years
Greenwich, London, UK, Damp, Mould, Council Flat, Housing Issues
Greenwich: A couple is really struggling with damp and mould in their council flat. Kevin and Rita Barry have been dealing with this nightmare for almost four years now. They’ve lived in their Blackheath flat for 29 years, but the mould has been a constant problem since 2021.
Rita says it all started when the council tried to fix some damp issues in their son’s bedroom. Recently, they found out that the plastic guttering was causing water to soak the outside wall every time it rained, which led to leaks in the bathroom.
Last August, the council replaced the guttering and did some work on the wall. While the leaks seem to have stopped, the mould is still there, and it’s pretty gross. Surveyors have told Rita that the wall will eventually need to be replastered and redecorated.
She described the situation, saying, “The wall is all mouldy and horrible. We first reported it over a year ago. Water was pouring out the bottom of the window, and I walked in one night to find a big puddle on the floor.”
They also noticed that rain was hitting their living room window, leaving a wet patch on the sill. A council worker came last October and sprayed something on the brickwork to stop the water from seeping in, but it didn’t help much.
Kevin mentioned that after the spray, the mould started coming back, spreading along the wall under the windows. He had his own issues with mould in his bedroom back in 2022.
A surveyor told him that the mould in the living room was due to water trapped in the bricks. Since last October, the couple claims that contractors have missed six appointments to check on the necessary repairs.
Kevin expressed his frustration, saying, “Weeks go by, months go by. It’s unbelievable, it’s incompetency.” He added that dealing with health issues is tough enough without the added stress from the council’s lack of action.
They feel like the mould problem is never-ending. It got so bad in late 2022 that they had to sleep on a camp bed and cushions in the living room.
Even after some work was done in February 2023, Rita said the council mistakenly called her last month about a mould wash for the bedroom instead of the living room, which had already been fixed.
Rita is fed up, saying, “I’m always on the phone to the council every other week. They could get it all done in a week.”
A spokesperson for Greenwich Council said they’re committed to making sure residents have safe homes. They acknowledged some delays but mentioned that internal work has recently restarted and should be completed soon.
They also advised tenants to contact them immediately if they suspect damp or mould by calling 020 8921 8900, and more information is available on their website.