Salford mum fears for son's health in mouldy home

A housing firm has apologised to over the state of the family's mouldy and damp Salford home

A mother who had to take her son to A&E with breathing problems caused by their mouldy home says she is "extremely worried" about his health.

Louise Moore lives in a ForHousing property in Salford with her 11-year-old son and six-year-old daughter.

She said the family were desperate to find a new home after damp and mould problems persisted, despite the firm making repairs.

ForHousing has apologised to the family and said more work was being planned.

The family have lived at the property on Newgate Drive in Little Hulton for more than ten years, but problems with damp and mould started to take hold last summer, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

'Urgent'

Ms Moore reported the issue to her landlord in August, but it took until November for an inspection to take place.

In the same month, she took her son Jayden to A&E after he started to suffer from breathing problems,

The visit led a nurse from Salford Primary Care Together to urge the housing provider to fix the mould problems "as a matter of urgency".

Ms Moore said repairs took place to clean and repaint some of the affected areas in January, but the problems continued, and some of the new treatment work caused her son to suffer further chest problems.

"I felt like they were trying to cover the problem up rather than deal with it," the 31-year-old said.

Ms Moore said she has seen mould damage to clothes, shoes, curtains, and even a mirror.

Nigel Sedman, a director of homes at ForHousing, said the provider had offered further repairs, but Ms Moore said she declined over fears it could make her son's issues worse.

"I'm extremely worried about his health, some nights he can't even be in his room."

Ms Moore said she raised a formal complaint in February and had been offered compensation, but added she was still waiting for the outcome of an investigation by ForHousing.

She said efforts to leave the property had been difficult because rental prices were unaffordable, despite her working long hours at a hospital.

Mr Sedman said the housing company would do "all we can to support Louise and her family" while they searched for a new home, and would carry out "any repairs that are needed so they feel safe and comfortable where they live."

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