For the last 18 months, major mould issues have meant two out of the four rooms in the home have been out of action and Charlotte Morris and her children have been sleeping in two cramped room.
For the past year and a half, serious mould issues have forced Charlotte Morris and her children to live in two of the four bedrooms in their Laindon home.
Exhausted – Ms Morris has spent more than a year trying to resolve the issue (Image: Charlotte Morris)The 35-year-old resident has called on her landlord, Basildon Council, to resolve the issue or move the family after more than a year of delays and disorganisation.
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According to Ms Morris, the problem with mould and damp in her Somercotes home stems from an unrepaired roof leak, and are now spreading to other rooms of the house.
She claims she has lost countless items of clothing, furniture and other personal possessions as a result of the ongoing problem.
Disgusting – The issue is spreading across the house, according to Ms Morris (Image: Charlotte Morris)However, the loss of furniture is the least of Ms Morris’ concerns, as she is suffering from depression that she attributes to the ongoing stress of the situation.
“At this point, I haven’t slept in my own bedroom for a year and have six children all sleeping in two rooms of the house,” said Ms Morris.
“I’m so scared for my children’s health. My daughter is always getting ill and I feel as though I’m constantly going back and forth to the doctor.”
Empty – The family has had to clear entire rooms due to the issue with mould (Image: Charlotte Morris)Ms Morris says that officers and surveyors from Basildon Council have visited the home on several occasions and acknowledged the extent of the damage.
“They’ll come and look, but getting someone to fix it seems impossible – every booked in date is cancelled or delayed,” she said.
Cramped – The family of eight are living out of two bedrooms (Image: Charlotte Morris)The extent of the problem has prompted Ms Morris to ask for the council to relocate her family to a new property.
She said: “I can’t keep living like this; the ceiling is bowed, the house stinks of mould – it’s like squatting in my own home.”
A Basildon Council spokesperson said: “Basildon Council is supporting Ms Morris with repairs to her home, and officers will arrange convenient appointment dates for the required works to take place, following any necessary inspections.
“If a council tenant’s housing needs change, or they wish to move, we advise completing the online housing transfer form.”