'I don't like having people see mould in my home'

Karoon Islaaw's flat in Northolt is plagued by mould

In Karoon Islaaw's living room, mould spreads from the ground to the ceiling on almost every wall.

The 67-year-old said she avoids having guests in her 24th storey Northolt council flat because she does not like people seeing the mould, which plagues almost every room.

Even in the summer, the state of the windows means her flat in Academy Gardens gets extremely cold.

She said she "feels the cold worse, because of my age, also my arthritis… I can't walk much, my bones are sore when I'm colder. It gets complicated."

Mrs Islaaw said she feels at risk from the scale of the mould in the property

She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) she believed the mould problem originated from leaks, poor ventilation and outdated windows.

Between the panes, evidence of condensation indicates the window seal had failed, allowing heat to escape.

A few weeks ago, Mrs Islaaw's radiators broke, forcing her to buy portable heaters.

She said: "Sometimes I would have people over, and they see that mould … I don't like that, I don't like having people see that in my home."

She said she feels at risk from the scale of the mould in the property and when she wiped it away, it simply came back.

She claimed Ealing Council has not helped her, despite reporting the issues on numerous occasions. She said recent calls have gone "unanswered".

"I don't get any help, it can cost a lot to have the heating on a lot. Life isn't what it used to be like… I don't even want a new place, I just want the repairs. I don't have an answer for why they [Ealing Council] didn't do anything for years."

Ealing Council said its records show the mould has not been reported to them

She told LDRS: "I called the council around two years ago, they sent someone to come and have a look at the flat, but they didn't do anything. It's been seven years since any repairs.

"It was actually worse than this, it's disgusting. Compared to before this actually looks okay, it was that bad."

An Ealing Council spokesperson said they were "sorry to hear of the issues that Mrs Islaaw has faced" but said their records indicate they have not been reported to the council.

They added that they have arranged for a local surveyor to visit her, and a housing officer to make contact and "ensure we are offering the right support".

They also said that residents should raise repair issues "as soon as possible so we can take the appropriate action".