Mould problem harming Shropshire cancer survivor’s health
Monday 10th January 2011, 8:17AM GMT.
A Shropshire woman who fought cancer today claimed she is being forced to scrub mould off walls at the home she rents from a county housing trust.
Susan Tonks, of Webb Crescent, Dawley, Telford, said the medication she still takes for cancer and osteoporosis lowers her immune system. The 39-year-old said this leaves her open to easy attacks from bacteria, causing her to fall ill in an instant.
She said a mouldy fungus was spreading through her home and this was a danger to her and her family.
She today called for her landlord Wrekin Housing Trust to do more to help. But the trust today said appropriate action had been taken to rectify the problem and the tenant had been kept up-to-date of progress.
Mrs Tonks said: “I’ve suffered quite a lot recently with ill health. I’ve battled off cancer but have been diagnosed with osteoporosis in my bones. I have been cleaning off the mould myself but it’s just not safe for me any more.
“It’s been a problem for about two months now and The Wrekin Housing Trust have been out on quite a few occasions.
“But all they do is give the walls a scrub with bleach and the problem is back within the week. I’ve had to throw out a wardrobe, TV units, clothing and curtains because of the mould.
“The first man who came out from the housing trust said that there was a serious issue with the property, but there is nothing being done.”
But Joanne Robertson, Wrekin Housing Trust area manager for Dawley, said appropriate action had been taken to rectify the problem in a speedy and timely manner.
She added: “We have kept our tenant fully informed of our actions during our investigations and work undertaken to solve the problem to date.”
She added that the final piece of work would be completed on January 17.
By Peter Finch
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Well I suggest wrekin housing trust need to take another look?? judging by the pictures or she should inform the landlord she will get an outside agency to look at it and bill the housing trust for the work.
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Spot on Andrew,
that is not acceptable for anyone, if not ill already, she soon would be…
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i used to live in an old property in Dawley with exactly the same problem. the land lord wouldn’t sort it out so i left. As my initial six month contract had not yet been fulfilled he kept my deposit…some people don’t care!!
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Mrs Tonks should obtain 3 quotes from outside agencies and inform the housing association how much the work will cost to rectify the damp problem. The Housing Trust should then have the option of choosing to undertake the work from the outside agencies or that they reimburse Mrs Tonks for the work undertaken. No one should live in conditions like these in this day and age.
It is a disgrace that a cancer patient should have to live in conditions such as these.
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my perants live in leegomery they r in there late 70 u should see wot there have got been going to the couicl for year but there cant seem to get rid of it not doing my mum and dad any favers
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I think this is bad that this woman has to go through this when she has suffered so much in the past someone should help her or move her to a safe house away from harm
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This house was unlikely offered to Mrs Tonks in this condition – and mould does not just spring up from nowhere, it takes weeks, if not months or even years to get to the size of infestation we see above.
Mrs Tonks, not Wrekin Housing (and its tenants who would be the ones footing the bill), should be responsible for the costs of this clean up. The mould has grown due to inadequate ventilation and damp conditions – this can be prevented quite easily; cook with pan lids on, open windows regularly (especially in wet rooms after use). If problems occur perhaps invest in a dehumidifier (the running costs should be near-offset by the savings on heating as it is more expensive to heat a damp house).
Even without taking preventative action, at the first specks of mould, a responsible tenant should have wiped it off using a £5.00 bottle of mould killer. It is entirely unfair to expect Wrekin Housing and its tenants to foot the bill for this one, I’m afraid.
I also note that the article uses the word “family”. I assume this family must live in the house for them to be ‘at risk’ – I can’t help but wonder why this family cannot clear up the mould if Mrs Tonks is that concerned about the risk to her own health? Facemasks, gauntlets and an old pair of clothes – job safely done. I’m the laziest bugger around, but if that were my Mother, i’d have had that place cleaned months ago and have a keen eye for future specks of mould.
Barking at Wrekin Housing to remedy ones own mess is unacceptable – as is ‘the card’ that’s being played in this article. An absolute insult to those survivors who achieve after such a devastating illness.
And too many times we see people have a hissy fit and run to the newspapers – simply because they can’t get their own way. Come on, a bit of press doesn’t affect the staff or management at Wrekin Housing – its the thousands of tenants on their books who pay their weekly rents and will ultimately foot the bill for this tidy up. If you’re that unhappy with your landlord, perhaps its time to move on into alternative accommodation; private rent perhaps?
I see no reason why people can’t take responsibility for their lives and sort things out themselves.
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My thoughts exactly, well said.
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I had the same problem, went to Wilkinsons, bought mould killer and damp seal paint.
Problem solved.
Cost? About £20!!
One of her family members need to do something rather than sit and moan!!
The rest of us have to.
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Great comment DD, i totally agree.
My opinion is some tenants expect too much from their housing providers, it is very frustrating, they need to remember, this is their home and their responsability.
WHT say they are looking into it, however i don’t believe the home would have been let to the tenant in this condition and im sure it can take a while for mould to become present.
I do hope it is sorted for her, i can see it is very unpleasent however maybe if she is not satisfied she should attend to the problem herself.
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Point well made
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Firstly sorry to hear her problems, I also have ongoing mould problem over a year ..WHT have as they say taken action to rectify the problem ..I had air bricks fitted outside walls treated, been told to use bleach, what they’re not doing, which looks like case here, is fixing the root cause ..Ie damp course gone or even underground burst pipe …
I understand that wht workmen ..are now told not to discuss repairs and what may or may not be the cause with tenants … I`m also on steroids with low immune system so know exactly what she going through.
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Sorry, but as a qualified builder, damp course does not “go”. It’s plastic and it is going to out last not just you, but the bricks the house are built from.
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Well said Double Dee. The last paragraph is spot on.
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wow – over here (Canada) if you have a mould problem they treat it much the same as asbestos, usually everything is stripped back to the studs and replaced, and a landlord can be given a heavy fine for non-action – they usually act before the building is condemned. As well as the irritants and allergens in mold it can also produce toxins, so this is really serious and can’t be wiped away with a bit of bleach, or even a lot of bleach. Spores will be in the air so, as with asbestos, a negative airflow needs to be set up to takes the air out of the home whilst clean up is ongoing.
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This is a common problem with older property (and some substandard newer properties) with many reasons and one cause – damp. Find the source of the damp and you are halfway there.
In this case the damp is pictured below a window so perhaps condensation is running off the sill and down the wall? Mould is also appearing a short distance away on the corner of the room so perhaps that is an indication of a more far reaching problem – perhaps there is water penetration through the wall or around the window in which case the owner of the building does need to take a close look at what the cause may be – and it may not be obvious.
Maybe the room is inadequately ventilated. Certainly the last cold spell in the weather would tend to have us all keeping windows firmly shut which will not have helped the problem.
What can we do to prevent moisture in indoor air? The main sources of moisture are cooking and showering/bathing – are there extractor fans in both areas? If not the windows should be opened until the room has dried out after each use and the house owner should get fans fitted – they are pretty cheap with fans that automatically sense moisture and switch themselves on running around £30.
After preventative action has been taken then perhaps further steps to reduce humidity might help e.g. dehumidifiers but these are expensive and not terribly efficient.
Once on the wall wallpaper becomes damp and forms a perfect source of food for fungal growth. Likewise carpets. There is little value in constantly wiping such absorbent surfaces with bleach as the mould will grow back quickly. The paper and carpet needs to be removed and underlying surfaces treated – note that wallpaper paste is a particularly good food for moulds so ensure that is thoroughly removed.
Once clean and dry with all preventative measures in place to prevent further damp the wallpaper could be replaced, or perhaps it would be better to used mould resistant paint?
One the subject of the health of this person, it would certainly be better if she stayed somewhere else while the investigative work and cleanup and was carried out
To summarise -action is needed by all parties involved along with specialist advice on how to avoid further problems
For further information we provide the following information: http://www.aspergillus.org.uk/newpatients/dampbuilding.php
I hope that helps
Dr Graham Atherton
National Aspergillosis Centre
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A couple of extractors around the house maybe about 4 @ £30 Each, Quite a few bottles of Mould cleaner @ £5 Each, about £20.
30*4=120+20+ £140
Anyone lend me £140 quid????
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Me, if you can buy and install extractor fans for £30 each, I’ll have four off you please.
Maybe you should approach Telford Housung trust and get a longterm contract….this time next year, Rodney…..Dreamer!!
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I agree – we have 2 small dehumidifiers (our previous (rented) property had serious damp) and they cost £50 each. £30 for extractor fans sounds a bargain!
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bob, the builder, when these houses were built the damp course was probably felt so could have failed due to subsidence.
Dawley’s an old slag heap did you know?
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Yes, i’d heard that about Dawley.
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Yes it’s written the the TDC book,history of Telford, so it’s got to be true…innit?
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I would think £150 to ensure the health of your family is money well spent.
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Yes – but I would have thought it is the landlords/owners responsibility to ensure the property they are renting out is in a safe, habitable condition?
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