Family fears illness from mould in Cornwall council flat

Liz Pannell said she had been contacting the council for two years about the problem of spreading mould

A family of three fears they are being made ill by the amount of mould in their Cornwall Council owned flat.

Liz Pannell said she had been contacting the council for two years about the problem of spreading mould.

Cornwall Housing, the council's in-house accommodation company, apologised for any distress caused.

Ms Pannell said she had been washing her child in the kitchen due to the amount of mould in their bathroom being "absolutely awful".

"We have black mould throughout our ground floor flat - I continue to scrub and clean every week, even re-paint yet it still returns," she said.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said Ms Pannell had mould spreading across the ceiling, walls and on their mattresses at their home in Saltash.

Liz Pannell said she had been washing her child in the kitchen due to the amount of mould in their bathroom being "absolutely awful"

Ms Pannell said over the past two years she has suffered with an unknown illness, which has seen her going in and out of hospital.

She said: "I was, prior to three-or-so years ago, a long-distance runner and in top health.

"Since then I've been suffering from respiratory problems including breathlessness and even fainting spells, as well as gastrointestinal problems, migraines, fatigue, nausea and diarrhoea, resulting in rapid loss of weight, leading to anxiety and depression."

'Horrified and apologetic'

Ms Pannell said since living in the flat, her daughter had developed a constant cough which needed an inhaler, and her husband had also developed a cough.

She said a senior officer from the council had visited the flat, and was "horrified and very apologetic, admitting proper safety checks may not have been done".

Ms Pannell said she was told her home would be immediately treated, cleaned and ventilation installed, but that work had still not been carried out.

She said: "We are all sleeping in the living room as there's only a small amount of mould in there, as I'm completely aware of how dangerous mould can be."

A spokesperson from Cornwall Housing said it took the "safety of our tenants very seriously".

It said: "We are sorry this matter has not been resolved and for any distress this may be causing the family.

"While we are unable to go into specific details, I can confirm that we have appointed a contractor to carry out the works and arrangements will be made with the tenant shortly."