Mum says mold in her home is so bad it’s left her fearing for her son’s life

A mother says black mold has taken over her home, leaving her fearing for her son’s life. Sinead Pope, 24, says black mold filled her rental house shortly after she moved into the two-bed flat in November 2020.

The wet conditions have caused her chest pains and her hair is falling out from the stress, she claims. Her son Aziyah, five, was diagnosed with fluid in his lungs and “almost died” from the humidity, she says. She says she worries if her son will wake up after finding him “lifeless and shabby” because of health complications from the mold, she says.

A report by a licensed building inspector found that there were threats to physical and mental health from the growth of damp and mould. And she says that despite repeated complaints from letting agents, having extractor fans installed and hiring a lawyer, her house is still covered in mould.

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Sinead, from Brighton, East Sussex, said: “It was scary – my son almost died two years ago because of the damp and mould. He was lifeless, limp and limp, coughing up mold and every time he coughed a lot he threw up. He stopped eating because he was always sick and the doctor said he had too much fluid in his lungs because of the humidity.

“He had a fever for 11 days, vomited non-stop and wheezed at night, couldn’t breathe well. Eventually he became pale, haggard and lifeless – I immediately took him to A&E who told me his blood sugar was dangerously low because he hadn’t eaten.’

Sinead says black mold started around her front door before spreading to the rest of the flat after she moved into the property in November 2020. She claims she informed the letting agency in December as soon as she noticed the mold from the front door.

However, letting agents told her the problem was down to her lifestyle, saying she didn’t open windows enough, kept furniture too close to walls and dried laundry on the radiator, she claims.

But Sinead says she followed all the advice the agency gave her and regularly cleans the flat of mold. She says a Brighton & Hove Council housing officer recommended the installation of extractor fans in 2021, but claims they have made no difference.

And it claims that in September 2023 an environmental health officer visited the property and said the mold was caused by cooking, showering and “breathing too much” at night.

In December 2023, she says letting agents Martin&Co and the landlord agreed to do a deep clean, but says this had to be put on hold until March while she recovered from surgery. But now she says the property still hasn’t been deep cleaned, she claims.

“I’ve been diagnosed with depression and anxiety because of it and I don’t sleep well at night,” Sinead said.

“I have chest pains and I’m losing my hair from the stress, it’s been a lot on my mental health but mainly the frustration of not getting help from anyone. I fear for my son’s health. I don’t know if he will. wake up in the morning with breathing problems.”

“He was diagnosed with asthma last year and is constantly coughing and wheezing all the time – he can’t sleep at night. I am very frustrated and feel helpless. I didn’t get any help.”

A Martin&Co spokesman said: “Martin and Co always respond efficiently and quickly to all issues at the properties we manage. We inspect properties regularly and highlight problems with landlords and offer support to tenants to prevent problems from getting worse.

“We take any health concerns related to mold or poor ventilation very seriously and in this situation we took a proactive approach throughout installing the mechanical ventilation and responding to various issues and leaks throughout the tenancy. We have been waiting for some time since the December 2023 visit to assist tenants with deep cleaning of walls and doors throughout the property and subsequent repairs.”

“We found that this process was delayed by the tenant even though it would have improved the property and health issues for their family member. Finally, we were given the go-ahead by the attorney and tenant for access to resolve these issues. quickly and work with the landlord and tenant to resolve these issues.”