A mum-of-two has accused Aberdeen City Council of “not caring” about her and her family after the local authority said they will not take a look at her mould infested flat until next year.
The woman, 48, who did not want to be named, has lived in the council flat at Byron Court in the Northfield area of the city with her two daughters, who are aged 10 and 16, since June last year.
Despite the flats only being 11 years old the woman told the Press & Journal there are “a lot of problems” with them, and says the problems are getting worse.
She said: “Even when problems are reported, nothing gets fixed, and the council doesn’t get in touch.”
When heavy rain fell in October, the ceilings in the flat began to leak, firstly in one room before it also happened in the others, with humidity affecting each of them.
This was reported to Aberdeen City Council by the woman and a council worker came to have a look at it from the street, but did not go inside the flat.
‘It is getting worse and black mould is forming’
The woman said: “The ceilings got wetter every time it rained and mould started to appear. I called the council saying that it is getting worse and black mould is forming. They told me that they would come to look into it on January 6, 2023.”
As the winter weather brought more rain and snow to the north-east, the mould continued to spread in the flat, leading to moisture in all of the rooms, a bad smell, as well as it becoming “hairy”.
Urging the council to do something about the problem, the woman said: “When we moved in, this apartment was dry and in the past it was a very nice flat, there was no moisture or mould anywhere.
“I don’t understand how they can let families live in such an environment and destroy their nice dry apartments. I don’t know who to turn to for help because this environment is becoming harmful to the health of my children.”
The issue of mould in council properties has made the news recently in the UK, especially following the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in Greater Manchester in December 2020, which was attributed to the problem.
The toddler was exposed to mould at the flat he lived in and last week, a watchdog found that there were “widespread failings” at the housing association which owned the property.
A spokeswoman for Aberdeen City Council said: “Tenants are encouraged to communicate directly with the council about housing matters, which will be investigated and addressed in line with existing procedures.”
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