West Dereham girl left ‘fighting for life’ after developing respiratory infection following damp and mould issues at Freebridge home

A mum claims her six-year-old girl was left “fighting for her life” after developing a respiratory infection which she believes was caused by damp and mould at her home.

Kimberly James, 29, moved into her Freebridge Community Housing property in West Dereham in 2021 with her two young daughters Kiah and Kadi, now aged 10 and six.

She told the Lynn News that since that time, she has had a number of issues at the two-bedroom home on St Andrew’s Close which have affected her and the girls, who are both vulnerable due to having a brain condition called Chiari malformation.

This refers to when the lower part of the brain pushes down into the spinal canal. Both girls had major brain operations to treat this - called foramen magnum decompression surgery - in June this year.

Freebridge told the Lynn News that although it is very sorry to hear about Kadi’s health condition, significant repairs have been carried out at the property to rectify the problems and an independent survey has found no recurrence of damp or mould.

It says it has engaged in regular contact and assistance and that compensation has been issued but no claim for damaged property has been submitted.

Having previously lived in a flat in Fairstead maintained by the housing association which later became unsuitable, the family were relocated to West Dereham three years ago.

Kimberly said they were unable to view the property in person beforehand due to Covid-19 restrictions, but she was able to see it via a video.

“Within a couple of months, it was apparent that work needed doing in terms of the windows - they all should have been done beforehand,” Kimberly said.

The mother-of-two stated that she told Freebridge about this, but the work was not undertaken at this point, and, when winter came along, damp started to develop.

It was at this time that mould started growing and began affecting furniture, clothing and bedding, she said.

She also reported a number of other issues including with the roof and the boiler.

The roof was fixed after taking the complaint to an ombudsman and the then-South West Norfolk MP, Liz Truss.

However, Kimberly said the problems with damp and mould have yet to be rectified three years later.

And last Monday, six-year-old Kadi - who is still recovering from the operation - was rushed to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge when she was left “fighting for her life” with a respiratory infection.

“This is not acceptable - I’ve run out of options to get help for Freebridge to do something proper,” she said.

“Kadi has been affected the most by being moved into the bungalow a week before she turned three.

“Kadi was never a poorly child before moving, she only had chicken pox and an ear infection.

“A couple of months after moving in, she started developing chest infections every month and now she is asthmatic.”

“It led to my daughter nearly dying. How many children have to die in damp properties before they do something?” she added.

Kimberly, who is deputy manager of a nursery in Downham and works as an early years practitioner, said the issues have affected her “whole life”, including her work, due to having to have time off due to the girls becoming ill.

This has led to her being signed off from work until next year.

“This has pushed me to a mental breakdown several times,” she said.

“Freebridge don’t care. They have not refunded me for any of my belongings [which had to be thrown away due to mould].”

To make the West Dereham home fit to live in, Kimberly believes that work needs to be done to improve the windows and doors, with a new ventilation system fitted.

She also thinks the driveway’s drainage needs sorting, and an investigation undertaken into the rising damp.

After Kadi was hospitalised last week, the family was temporarily moved to a Travelodge.

“It’s not good enough - they need a home, somewhere safe,” Kimberly said.

“The last thing Kadi wants is to be here.”

A spokesman for Freebridge told the Lynn News: “We acknowledge the concerns raised by Ms James regarding her home and are deeply sorry to hear about her daughter’s health condition.

“We have maintained regular communication with Ms James and following significant repairs at her home earlier this year, we had an independent survey carried out, which has found no further evidence of damp or mould.

“However, in response to her concerns about the potential health impacts on her children’s condition, we immediately offered temporary accommodation, which she initially confirmed was suitable, but later found it to be too noisy, and as a result, we arranged for alternative accommodation.

“In June, compensation was issued along with our insurance details; however, no claim for damaged property has been submitted to date.

“We have provided ongoing assistance and, earlier this week our surveying team visited her home again and confirmed that there is no damp and mould present, and that the air condition is within British standards to reassure Ms James once again that the home is safe.

“We remain committed to supporting Ms James and her family and our primary goal is to resolve her concerns as quickly and effectively as possible.”