“My flat is moldy but the council keeps kicking me out”

A 21-year-old claims he was ‘frightened’ in his bid to remove mold from his council flat in Leigh because he is young and weeks behind on his rent. Unemployed Ryan Clorley said he had made repeated complaints about mold on the bedroom walls, bathroom and doors, but nothing was done to eradicate the problem at his Sunningdale Grove, Higher Fold, home.

“It just keeps pushing me away,” he said. “I think it’s because I’m young and behind on the rent.

“I’ve had some personal problems since I was working at McDonald’s and as a construction worker. The council repairmen said there was nothing more they could do but I don’t understand why they think people should live like this.”

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Wigan Council says it has already tried to deal with the problem and plans to send someone back to Mr Clorley’s home.)

But pictures from inside the property show the extent of the mold problem. A black mold appears to have spread over the curtains and interior doors of his home.

Upper sections of the 21-year-old’s bedroom walls and ceiling are also mouldy, and he claims the council has failed to deal with the issue and is “fobbing” him.

However, Kathryn Perry, deputy director of housing services at Wigan council, said the “initial antifungal treatment” had been carried out and more were scheduled.

Responding to Ryan’s complaint, Mrs Perry said: “As a landlord for more than 21,000 properties, Wigan Council is committed to providing our tenants with safe and high quality housing.

“As part of our maintenance programme, we routinely carry out damp and mold surveys in our properties and work to respond quickly and effectively to reports of damp and mold by carrying out an anti-fungal flush within 48 hours.

“I went to Mr Clorley’s home and had this initial antifungal treatment and a further treatment is scheduled.

“A number of repairs have been identified which are ongoing and we will be working with Mr Clorley and specialist advice will be sought if necessary to ensure this issue is resolved.”