Dudley News
A living hell
12:10pm Wednesday 22nd February 2012
A SLEDMERE family claim they have been left living in a ‘hovel’, as their council flat is covered in mould and damp due to excessive condensation.
Not only do all the walls and ceilings in Trevor and Sue Beech’s three-bedroom flat in Warrens Hall Road have thick mould growing on them, but also their wardrobes, drawers, clothes, shoes and even their bed.
The problem escalated to such a degree that their electricity blew last week in one half of the flat, after electricians found three light fittings were full of water.
Mrand Mrs Beech,who also live with Sue’s 79-year-old mum, Beatrice Hunt, who is in poor health and is recovering froma broken neck, say they have been left at their wits’ end.
The family have had to move the majority of their belongings into one room because of the cold, damp, mouldy walls and have been forced to spend their nights with relatives, as they say their home is unliveable.
Mr Beech, aged 55, who has lived in the first floor flat in the two-storey property for over seven years, said the problems first began in October last year, when part of their roof had to be patched up following bad weather.
Trevor said: “By November we noticed damp had started to appear on the bathroom ceiling, so we notified the council.
“An inspector came to view the property in January, but by that time the mould had developed in the bedrooms and was growing on our clothes and shoes.”
“We were told it was condensation and an extractor fan would cure it, but I think the only solution would be a new roof.
“Last week was the straw which broke the camel’s back when our lighting went off leaving us with no electricity in our kitchen, bathroom and one bedroom as water was coming through light fittings.
“Over the last fewmonths we have lost over £1,000 worth of equipment which we have had to throw out, our wallpaper is peeling off the walls and we have fur growing on our shoes, clothing, even the bottom of my bed is mouldy. I’ve even paid for central heating to be installed, but that isn’t solving the problem.
“The flat is just unliveable, it is a hovel, but the council won’t rehouse us. My wife keeps crying and I’ve gone down all the right channels and I just don’t know where to turn now.”
Supporting the couple, ward councillor Steve Waltho, said: “I think this is a dispicable situation. Mr and Mrs Beech keep a really nice property and adhere to all the council rules, but I believe there is something seriously wrong with the structuring, not just condensation.”
Councillor Adrian Turner, cabinet member for housing, said: “Wehave carried out a roof survey at the property which confirmed that there is no leak.
“As the problem persists even in the dry weather, it has been identified that the problem is extreme condensation, which, in part, may be associated with the solid concrete roof.
“We have prioritised the work and are also advising the family on ways to address condensation to resolve the issues."
Thi sweek, repairwork has begun with the replastering of walls and ceiling and rewiring to get the electricity working again.
However Trevor voiced fears it was just Dudley Council “papering over the cracks” and the problem would just restart all over again in coming weeks.
He added: “They have done all the work they can do now and they are coming out to assess the walls, but everything will need redecorating before we can live in it again, but I don’t think this will be a permanent solution.”