A MUM has told how she is being “left to rot” in her damp-ridden flat where mould grows like “moss” and everything is falling apart.
Nicola Brennan, 44, has been living in the ground-floor property in Archway, North London, for the last five years.
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Nicola Brennan has been living in her north London flat for the last five yearsCredit: Peter Jordan
She says a green and black mould started to coat the walls three years ago and now covers almost every inch of the two-bedroom apartment.
Despite repeatedly complaining to Peabody Housing Association, which owns the property, the mum-of-two feels she is not being listened to.
And she now fears she is being “left to rot” in the sodden home.
“It’s unsafe to stay in,” Nicola told the Sun Online.
“I’m coughing and my head’s spinning. We’ve decorated twice in the last five years and it’s ruined – everything’s falling apart.
“They said it’s 75 per cent damp in this property but it’s probably gone up to 100 per cent now because of the mould.
“I feel like I’m not being listened to. I feel like I’ve just been left to rot in this house.”
Matters worsened this week, when a leak soaking from upstairs for over a month burst “like a waterfall” into Nicola’s flat.
Her partner, Bobby Mehmet, said they had to fight “tooth and nail” to get a plumber and electrician to visit them and have since had all the electricity and water turned off.
Meanwhile, all of their belongings have either been ruined by mould or water.
Bobby, 33, explained: “All of the walls are like green moss on a tree. The mould has become 3D. We feel like no-one is helping.
“They told us they are going to come and fix this leak but it is so severe now, it’s flooded the kitchen, flooded the kids’ bedroom, it’s ruined everything.”
Bobby and Nicola, whose daughters Madison, 14, and Sharna, 12, stay with their gran during the week, have not yet told the girls how bad the damage is.
And they are worried how teen Madison, who has autism, will cope.
‘IT’S FURRY’
Nicola explained: “When it was leaking little bits she wasn’t allowed in her bedroom, so we had to take the plugs out of the sockets and she had to stay in the living room.
“Because she couldn’t get that she was really upset but now we haven’t told her how severe her bedroom is.
“The wallpaper has come away, there’s mould on the walls.
“It’s all furry and when you walk in you can smell the damp. It stinks and it’s freezing cold in that bedroom.”
She added: “We are scared to let them see their toys. All her teddies and her clothes are all sentimental to her.”
Nicola, who suffers from PTSD and asthma, has been given a medical letter stating her health has “significantly worsened by living in severely damp accommodation”.
And Bobby is terrified his partner “won’t survive” the dire conditions.
Everything is soaking – I don’t know how she is going to survive.
Bobby Mehmet
He said: “There’s no heating, there’s no electricity, and there’s no water – she can’t even use the sink, it’s all blocked from the flood.
“She can’t cook anything, everything is soaking – I don’t know how she is going to survive.”
Bobby and Nicola said the flat started leaking on December 13.
They said they repeatedly complained about it to Peabody and launched an urgent complaint on January 18.
Peabody Housing have sympathised with the situation and say they have offered Nicola alternative accommodation while they carry out repairs.
A spokesperson for the housing association said: “We know this is an upsetting situation for Nicola and are sorry there have been delays in improving the condition of her home.
“When the urgent leak from the flat above was reported to us yesterday, our team visited as an emergency to make sure the electrics were not damaged and to identify the causes.
“We know there are also longer-term, more complex issues in Nicola’s home which we’ve been trying to resolve for some time. We have offered Nicola some alternative, temporary accommodation while we carry out repairs and redecorate her home.”
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The bathroom ceiling is peeling awayCredit: Peter Jordan
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Nicola’s kitchen was left sodden after a leak she had complained about completely burstCredit: Peter Jordan
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She says her daughters’ bedroom stinks and their toys have been ruinedCredit: Peter Jordan
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The ceiling and walls are covered in the grime – causing Nicola’s health to worsenCredit: Peter Jordan
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Black damp can be seen on the walls of her children’s bedroomCredit: Peter Jordan
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The wallpaper in the house is peeling away as a result of the dampCredit: Peter Jordan
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Nicola’s sink was blocked after the floodCredit: Peter Jordan
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The mould is crawling up the wallsCredit: Peter Jordan
Shocking video of water leaking into Sandwell home for four years
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/17376969/left-to-rot-damp-ridden-house/
