Local tenants hit out at mould
TENANTS of former council homes have told how mould, damp and cold are plaguing their lives – with one mum telling of an occasion her sleeping daughter was so cold she feared she was dead.
Freebridge Community Housing is working through a programme to upgrade almost 7,000 homes it took over from West Norfolk Council in 2006, but for many tenants the wait for improvements feels too long.
Rebecca Vass (24) said she reported mould and damp creeping up the walls of her flat in Hillington Square, Lynn, in November, but has been told necessary remedial works will not be done until next month – an improvement of a month on the first date she was given.
Lynn Marshall Toyota worker Miss Vass (24), who lives with partner Lee Tamcken (29), said: "In my eyes we shouldn't have to live like this. If we rented privately they would have to deal with it straight away."
Miss Vass said the problem has been so bad she had to throw a mattress out because it had gone green underneath. Freebridge said Miss Vass's home needs a humidistat unit installed in the kitchen and repairs to an extractor fan in the bathroom.
Similar problems have faced mum-of-two Trisha Chamberlain (24), tenant of Monks Close, Bircham Newton.
She said her home was so cold she feared for the health of her asthmatic daughter Chloe (four) and ended up taking baby Brooke (18 months) into her own bed to keep her warm, while partner Ricky Groom (25) slept downstairs.
Freebridge began installing a new central heating system on Wednesday after her chimney was condemned.
Housekeeper Miss Chamberlain said: "I have serious mould. They kept saying it's not that bad, but they don't have to live in it. I pay full rent and expect my home to be kept to a certain standard.
"It got such a struggle, I kept breaking down in tears. My baby was so cold in her sleep she felt dead."
Freebridge business and performance manager Gill Rejzl said: "Freebridge took on almost 7,000 properties at transfer. Some of these properties require major works and our improvement programme will deal with the major issues over the six years from the date of transfer.
"Where properties experience issues with mould and mildew at this time of the year – this is often caused by condensation due to thin or poorly-insulated external walls and poor ventilation."
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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