Single mum 'made ill' by damp told to return home

Hollie says the moisture in the home is too much for her asthma

A single mum has been told to return to her home despite a letter from a medical professional saying that damp and mould is making her ill.

Hollie Monks moved into a home in Coalpit Heath owned by housing association Sovereign Network Group three years ago, but for the past year has experienced serious damp and humidity.

Last autumn, Ms Monks, 46, and her two children had to move out into a local hotel for months during attempts to fix the problem, but she is now being told the property is safe to live in.

In July, she was admitted to hospital following an asthma attack, but Sovereign said its latest investigation found humidity levels were "manageable".

Ms Monks said she first had issues with damp and water coming through her front door in autumn 2024, which is made worse by the land around her home sloping downwards.

Along with her six-year-old son and nine-year-old daughter, who is autistic, Ms Monks was moved to the Travelodge in Emersons Green for three months.

Water coming through the back door

This allowed the front porch to be removed and the door replaced to aid drainage. A dehumidifier was also provided.

But she said the issue has not been fixed. She showed the BBC around her house, pointing out damp and mould by the front door, and in the two bedrooms.

"I've just come back into my property and you can hear that I can't breathe, because the moisture is too much for my asthma," she said.

"They tell me to keep putting towels down, three times a day I empty my dehumidifier."

"We have to sleep with mould, and my son has to sleep with a fan on otherwise he can't breathe," she added.

Mould appearing at the front door

This comes as a law has been introduced which forces councils and housing associations to fix damp and mould issues within stricter timeframes.

Awaab's Law, is named after two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who died after being exposed to mould at his Rochdale home in 2020.

In August, a nurse from the Severe Asthma Team at Southmead Hospital wrote a letter to the housing association, which has been seen by the BBC.

The nurse's assessment is that "Hollie is exhibiting symptoms consistent with the negative health impacts of damp and mould exposure".

This letter came after Ms Monks was admitted to hospital in July following an asthma attack, where her daughter had to call 999.

The letter continues: "Given her medical history, she is at increased risk of further complications if these issues are not addressed promptly."

Nicole Sharp, chief customer officer at Sovereign Network Group (SNG), said it had "thoroughly investigated the humidity levels at the property", and found that the property was safe to live in.

"Our surveyors have confirmed that humidity is manageable through appropriate ventilation, and no mould was present during the most recent inspection yesterday."

She added sensors had been installed to monitor humidity levels, and that the back door and extractor fans in the kitchen and bathroom would be replaced.