A young mum who is pregnant with her third child fears her family's health is being put at risk because her rented home is riddled with mould and damp.
Lauren Gillard said her two-bedroom housing association flat in Exwick, Exeter, has been plagued with mould in every room, and even in wardrobes and cupboards since she moved in 18 months ago.
The 24-year-old lives in the property owned by The Guinness Partnership with her children Esmae, two, and Ruby, one, Devon Live reports.
Lauren said: "Mould is absolutely everywhere. At the beginning of last year my kids and I had bronchitis.
"We have never had it before and I think it's from living here because the mould keeps growing all the time.
"When we came to view the flat it was lovely. Mould then started to appear about three to four months after we moved in on July 31, 2018.
"There was quite a lot of mould and there was a funny smell I couldn't pinpoint.
"I then found mould in the cupboards, as well as on the walls around the flat.
"I got in touch with The Guinness Partnership and told them how bad it was, and have been back to them numerous time since.
"Thermal boards were put in the front room and my bedroom. I was told it would stop the mould but it hasn't."
In September last year, Lauren had a new bath, towel rail and flooring fitted, and some wall tiles replaced.
The ceiling also had mould treatment but she said it failed to solve the problem and work is now being carried out on it again.
The housing association says the property is suffering from penetrating damp and a damp specialist will be attending to identify works required.
Lauren said: "The mould has been growing back horrendously since. The bathroom is now completely ruined and paint is coming off.
"In my daughter's room there is bad mould by the side of her bed as well as at the back of my bed. We also get mould in the wardrobes and on the ceilings.
"I keep being promised things which have not yet been done. I have previously been told the reason for the mould is the type of house it is and to keep the windows open and the property ventilated, which I do anyway.
"I have also tried treating it myself. I continue to wipe the mould away and have painted the walls with anti-mould paint, but it doesn't work.
"A housing officer and surveyor came out two weeks ago and I was told they would look at the drains to see if they are blocked because I have damp as well as mould. In my bedroom cupboard it is wet inside, as well as in my walk-in wardrobe.
"They keep saying there going to help me, but I’m getting no where at all with them. It's really frustrating, and I can’t cope with false hope."
A spokesman from The Guinness Partnership said: “We are sorry that Ms Gillard has been experiencing problems with damp at her property.
"The property is suffering from penetrating damp and a damp specialist will be attending to identify works required.
"In the meantime our contractors began repair work to the bathroom on Friday, February 28, and we will work with Ms Gillard to manage the mould until works to resolve the damp are complete.”
