Mother-of-one Heather Mabbott has complained about mould in her flat in Pinkerton Road, South Ham, Basingstoke

4:00pm Friday 22nd March 2013 in News By Chris Gregory

Heather Mabbott with daughter Eliana and partner Ruben Gook Heather Mabbott with daughter Eliana and partner Ruben Gook

A YOUNG mother has hit out after battling to get a mould problem tackled in her Basingstoke flat.

Heather Mabbott said the mould in her studio flat, in Pinkerton Road, South Ham, has caused her daughter breathing problems and her partner has had to sleep on the floor, away from the affected area.

The 23-year-old has lived in the Sovereign Kingfisher property since 2010, and shares it with her partner Ruben Gook, 22, and her nine-month-old daughter Eliana.

Miss Mabbott, who works part-time at JJ’s Play, in Morse Road, said mould had spread on one wall, the flat’s bedroom/lounge, and can also be found in the bathroom.

She said she has tried cleaning the mould and covering it with paint, but it keeps coming back.

Miss Mabbott said: “We are fed up with living here. We cannot keep the flat well-ventilated with three people in it. I have to close the windows if I’m out all day.”

Engineers from the housing association cleared up the mould on their last visit, but Miss Mabbott said it is likely to come back as they found an air vent that was letting water in to the flat.

Roy Probert, public relations manager for Sovereign Kingfisher, said Miss Mabbott should contact Basingstoke and Deane Council to be considered for a larger property through the choice-based lettings bidding system.

He added: “Our repairs and maintenance teams have washed down the walls to remove the mould and the missing roof vent cap will be replaced on Monday.

“Once that is done, we will treat the walls with mould inhibitor and repaint. In the meantime, our surveyor has given the family advice on the various steps they can take to reduce moisture in the flat.”

Comments(63)

MouldUk says...
5:02pm Fri 22 Mar 13

This is awful, Heather is right to be concerned. Please contact us via MouldUK on Twitter and we will try to put you in touch with someone that can give you the right kind of help and improve the chances of protecting your families future health.

Take Care

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MouldUk says...
5:28pm Fri 22 Mar 13

http://www.euro.who.
int/__data/assets/pd
f_file/0017/43325/E9
2645.pdf

For anyone who has concerns read this document

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lovemychildren says...
5:43pm Fri 22 Mar 13

Mould is awful and can cause health issues. Sadly, mould is also caused by occupants and easily fixed (unless rising damp). I'm sure housing associations are getting tired of the calls about it.

Mould is simply caused by not balancing ventilation and heat correctly.
Stop having the heaters on all day, drying cloths indoors and not opening windows. Put extractors on, cook with lids! The moisture just needs some where to go!
Buy a dehumidifier, wipe with vinegar or tea tree oil, if the windows etc are wet in the mornings, dry them. Also make sure furniture is not always pushed up against affected areas. Clean, fresh air needs to circulate.

Simples :)

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Folkestone Saint says...
10:45am Sat 23 Mar 13

3 people in a studio flat that is made for one and occasionally two = 3 times the amount of sweat, cooking, washing and drying and also less likely to be un-occupied to give it a chance to dry out, you need to move to a more suitable property.

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Best_Name_Ever says...
10:17am Mon 25 Mar 13

I live in a one bedroom flat with my partner and would not dream of having a child in such a small space, so a studio flat must be a nightmare for the reasons Folkestone Saint outlines.

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Folkestone Saint says...
3:34pm Mon 25 Mar 13

Best_Name_Ever wrote:
I live in a one bedroom flat with my partner and would not dream of having a child in such a small space, so a studio flat must be a nightmare for the reasons Folkestone Saint outlines.
I live in a 1930's semi and we still get this mould behind drawers and wardrobes, thats with 3 of us, 2 who work and one at school all day so the house is regularly empty and we open the windows whenever possible, the only fix, bucket of soapy water and sponge

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Best_Name_Ever says...
7:34am Tue 26 Mar 13

Its not an uncommon problem - I had mould at one point and treated it.

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laurence86 says...
10:38am Tue 26 Mar 13

I wish I could get the Housing Association to fix every little thing that went wrong with my house.....

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JJ38JJ says...
10:50am Tue 26 Mar 13

laurence86 wrote:
I wish I could get the Housing Association to fix every little thing that went wrong with my house.....
You should get in touch with the Gazette. They are always looking for stories of lazy people complaining because they can't get other people to do stuff for them free of charge.

Report this post »

lovemychildren says...
4:41pm Tue 26 Mar 13

@Folkstone Saint
NO, the only fix is not soapy water, that is one of the worst things you can do.
You treat mould, as I have already said, with vinegar or tea tree oil and by taking furniture away from the walls so air can circulate.

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jonone says...
9:17pm Tue 26 Mar 13

Funny, she goes to the papers complaining about her taxpayer subsidised house, yet doesn't mind working in that filthy pit JJ's!!

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Folkestone Saint says...
10:30pm Tue 26 Mar 13

lovemychildren wrote:
@Folkstone Saint
NO, the only fix is not soapy water, that is one of the worst things you can do.
You treat mould, as I have already said, with vinegar or tea tree oil and by taking furniture away from the walls so air can circulate.
You forgot the over population of a small property, to me that is the one major contributor, and cleaning is not a bad thing, I will let my wife know about the vinegar and tea tree oil though thanks

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hestia_k says...
4:01pm Wed 27 Mar 13

Heather - Moulduk is right. My son and I are ill from mould in my home too. Toxic mould is hazardous - as bad as asbestos ie a category 1 hazard. I am not trying to scare you - just to let you know the truth. Dont be concerned about others comments - they have not studied it as much as we have. Make sure the engineers put in writing what they have done to remedy the situation and what evidence they have that the mould problem has been resolved. You are right - it is likely to come back and is also likely to be present in the air still. Trust your instincts on this. Dont be fobbed off!!!!.

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hestia_k says...
4:12pm Wed 27 Mar 13

By the way - if you have lived in houses before and not had a mould problem then it is likely that it is not due to your life style eg cooking habits etc. the property needs to be fit for purpose eg you should take care to keep moisture levels down as mentioned in another comment, but it is the fault of the building if you are finding you need to rush about opening windows, putting heating on when you dont need to, wiping walls down all the time etc etc. If you have a car which you look after, fill with petrol, oil and water, etc and you need to push it every time it goes up a hill, then there is something wrong with the car and not you.

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Best_Name_Ever says...
4:36pm Wed 27 Mar 13

Surely a studio flat is not fit for purpose for three people? Two people maybe at a push. How is that then then fault of the building? I think life style does play a huge part in mould.

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mel1989 says...
5:12pm Wed 27 Mar 13

JJ38JJ wrote:
laurence86 wrote: I wish I could get the Housing Association to fix every little thing that went wrong with my house.....
You should get in touch with the Gazette. They are always looking for stories of lazy people complaining because they can't get other people to do stuff for them free of charge.
Firstly, they are not lazy... They both work pays taxs and all bills! Their baby girl has suffered continuously with eye infections breathing difficulties skin rashes, all sorts!! They struggle everyday to move and live like a normal family... Don't you dare make a comment like that about someone you don't know!

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mel1989 says...
5:30pm Wed 27 Mar 13

This is my sister, brother in law and niece... The majority of you that have commented should be ashamed of yourselves! They work, pay taxes, bills and yea heather works in jj's but its a job... So she can provide for her daughter! Eliana their child has suffered continuously with eye infections breathing difficulties skin rashes, she has no where to play. Reuben is a UK citizen and works full time as a support worker for people with disabilities, they eat their dinner on the bed and Eliana sleeps in a travel cot... By what I've read you clearly have no idea what these people are going through and the disgusting living conditions they have been subjected too, don't judge them by an article you have read! Heather cleans constantly to get rid of the mould and smell she has her windows open and won't put her heating on as she's worried of making her box worse! They claim no benefits and Reuben is British born and bred! Think of these people before making your nasty and spiteful comments and what consequences you could entail! You don't know them, don't brand them like some of the'immigrants' as one of you said that get everything handed to them... They have done everything possible to get help... Its their child Eliana that they are concerned about, which one of you would expect your child to have to deal with that!! Back off!!you know nothing!!

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Best_Name_Ever says...
5:44pm Wed 27 Mar 13

I think you will find people will form their own opinions when someone makes their situation known in a public forum - sad but true. This lady and her partner chose to have a child whilst living in a studio flat that is obviously not suitable for the situation and probably already had damp.

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Best_Name_Ever says...
5:46pm Wed 27 Mar 13

Plus, I would not expect my child to deal with that because I would make sure I was not in that position. This is why I have not had a child in a one bedroom flat.

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mel1989 says...
5:48pm Wed 27 Mar 13

jonone wrote:
Funny, she goes to the papers complaining about her taxpayer subsidised house, yet doesn't mind working in that filthy pit JJ's!!
She went to the papers to tell others who are in her situation. You don't know her, she works in jj's to provide for her child... Back off, you don't know what crap she has had to endure, daughters being ill from mould spores, hospital trips the lots... 3 people in a bedsit made for 1 person is even a ground to move out... My niece has no where to play! Its disgusting in there, you try living in that condition... You wouldn't last a day!!

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mel1989 says...
6:01pm Wed 27 Mar 13

Best_Name_Ever wrote:
Plus, I would not expect my child to deal with that because I would make sure I was not in that position. This is why I have not had a child in a one bedroom flat.
Their child wasn't planned, but they wasn't going to get rid of her for the sake of where they live, it probably is hard to believe with the fact that so many people have children to get homes, but this isn't the case heather moved from a 1 bedroom flat to a bedsit before meeting Reuben cos she couldn't afford the rent and the price to heat it was too much, she then got with Reuben about 6 months later then 6 months later Eliana was on her way. None of this was planned but they are wonderful people and shouldn't be living like this!

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MouldUk says...
6:10pm Wed 27 Mar 13

If the owners of the flat would like some support try contacting your MP.

If you would like some support with that tweet us

MouldUk

We're not professional but we have had our own experience and are keen to raise awareness. We have been contacted by another family in a Sovereign property and they have similar issues so know that you are not alone.
When people get together change can happen.
It is really concerning to hear about your daughters health issues and they will likely not improve unless the source and everthing the source produces is removed. This is not always visible. I requires a professional person, please do not waste your money on sprays and potions. Your landlord has a duty of care and there is a housing act that should help protect you.
My family and I are sick, if we all work at raising awareness then perhaps we can ensure others don't need to experience this sort of alarming situation.

Report this post »

MouldUk says...
6:10pm Wed 27 Mar 13

If the owners of the flat would like some support try contacting your MP.

If you would like some support with that tweet us

MouldUk

We're not professional but we have had our own experience and are keen to raise awareness. We have been contacted by another family in a Sovereign property and they have similar issues so know that you are not alone.
When people get together change can happen.
It is really concerning to hear about your daughters health issues and they will likely not improve unless the source and everthing the source produces is removed. This is not always visible. I requires a professional person, please do not waste your money on sprays and potions. Your landlord has a duty of care and there is a housing act that should help protect you.
My family and I are sick, if we all work at raising awareness then perhaps we can ensure others don't need to experience this sort of alarming situation.

Report this post »

Best_Name_Ever says...
6:13pm Wed 27 Mar 13

It is not difficult to prevent having children - loads of people manage to do this, especially when there are factors to consider such as money and living accommodation. You are right - they should not be living like this, but then again, it is a situation of their own making.

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Folkestone Saint says...
6:15pm Wed 27 Mar 13

@ Mel "don't judge them by an article you have read!" how else are we to judge, not that I was or want to. It is everyones own responsibility to make sure they line their ducks up, if you don't then why is it anyone else's problem. However as they both work they don't have an ice-cream in hells chance of getting a decent size council property so maybe this article will help.

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laurence86 says...
7:06pm Wed 27 Mar 13

Hmmm being together for 6 months before having a kid. Says it all really.

I hope for the sake of little Eliana that they get there acts together. Either they need to sort the route cause and stop relying on the council to fix it or move out to private accommodation. Simples

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mel1989 says...
7:07pm Wed 27 Mar 13

Folkestone Saint wrote:
@ Mel "don't judge them by an article you have read!" how else are we to judge, not that I was or want to. It is everyones own responsibility to make sure they line their ducks up, if you don't then why is it anyone else's problem. However as they both work they don't have an ice-cream in hells chance of getting a decent size council property so maybe this article will help.
I agree that they have no chance with being housed as working people, people are too quick to judge by what they read, there's is a lot more than what is put in this article, papers twist a lot of things and this one hasn't done them justice,

Report this post »

illegal gook says...
7:33pm Wed 27 Mar 13

I would like to clarify i am not an ILLEGAL IMIGRANT, i was born and bred in Basingstoke and so was my partner.
We didnt have our daughter to get a property we have lived here for 2years nearly and my partner had given her 1bedroom flat up to some1 that needed it more than she did at the time, My partner fell pregnant yeah maybe we should have been more careful but we are strong enough not to take our problems and just take the easy way out buy having our child aborted...
Our daughter means the world to both of us and if you actually knew us you would realise we are good people and good parents....
People commenting on this post shows just how disgusting the human race can be you are just like a pack of wolves preying on others situation.
I have been a full time support worker for 2 years and before that I was a full time window cleaner due to losing my job at a warehouse and not wanting to go onto benefits including JSA, my partner has also never claimed benefits.
We have both WORKED since the day we left school.
We contacted the Gazette due to the council and housing associations lack of help and concern of our babies health. We have contacted MARIA MILLER who hasnt helped, I also contacted MIKE PRISK MP who is the Housing Minister again couldnt do anything, it was then we contacted the Gazette to see if there was any help we didnt know about and they said they could write an article.
It is nothing to do with the fact we want something for nothing we PAY FULL RENT, FULL COUNCIL TAX and also pay a SERVICE CHARGE to Sovereign Kingfisher for the upkeep of the properties...
It is there responsibility as the landlord to maintain the condition of the property and ensure it is a safe environment..

THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK AND REALISE NOT EVERYONE WHO ASKS FOR HELP IS ON BENEFITS....

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour....

Report this post »

mel1989 says...
7:41pm Wed 27 Mar 13

illegal gook wrote:
I would like to clarify i am not an ILLEGAL IMIGRANT, i was born and bred in Basingstoke and so was my partner.
We didnt have our daughter to get a property we have lived here for 2years nearly and my partner had given her 1bedroom flat up to some1 that needed it more than she did at the time, My partner fell pregnant yeah maybe we should have been more careful but we are strong enough not to take our problems and just take the easy way out buy having our child aborted...
Our daughter means the world to both of us and if you actually knew us you would realise we are good people and good parents....
People commenting on this post shows just how disgusting the human race can be you are just like a pack of wolves preying on others situation.
I have been a full time support worker for 2 years and before that I was a full time window cleaner due to losing my job at a warehouse and not wanting to go onto benefits including JSA, my partner has also never claimed benefits.
We have both WORKED since the day we left school.
We contacted the Gazette due to the council and housing associations lack of help and concern of our babies health. We have contacted MARIA MILLER who hasnt helped, I also contacted MIKE PRISK MP who is the Housing Minister again couldnt do anything, it was then we contacted the Gazette to see if there was any help we didnt know about and they said they could write an article.
It is nothing to do with the fact we want something for nothing we PAY FULL RENT, FULL COUNCIL TAX and also pay a SERVICE CHARGE to Sovereign Kingfisher for the upkeep of the properties...
It is there responsibility as the landlord to maintain the condition of the property and ensure it is a safe environment..

THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK AND REALISE NOT EVERYONE WHO ASKS FOR HELP IS ON BENEFITS....

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour....
All that needs to be said really! well done!

Report this post »

illegal gook says...
7:48pm Wed 27 Mar 13

laurence86 wrote:
Hmmm being together for 6 months before having a kid. Says it all really.

I hope for the sake of little Eliana that they get there acts together. Either they need to sort the route cause and stop relying on the council to fix it or move out to private accommodation. Simples
We were actually together for 1 year before Eliana was born and dont you dare say we should get our acts together for her sake, we work to provide for our daughter and also our relationship is very strong before we actually got together we had been seeing eachother for a while....

DONT JUDGE ME BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO, I WILL DO ANYTHING TO GET THE BEST FOR MY DAUGHTER AND DEAL WITH CHALLENGING SITUATIONS EVERYDAY I GO TO WORK...

We get no financial help off any organization and are fed up of being told we shouldnt have had our daughter, things happen for a reason and i wouldnt change my daughter for anything...

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illegal gook says...
7:54pm Wed 27 Mar 13

I would also like to add we have looked into private accommodation but it would mean we would be left in debt which we work hard to keep out of due to the rate of rent in Basingstoke.....

Treat others how you want to be treated...

ITS SO HEARTWARMING PEOPLE TAKE TIME OUT OF THERE SAD LIVES TO ABUSE MY FAMILY USING A USER NAME SITTING BEHIND A COMPUTER SCREEN.....

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illegal gook says...
8:00pm Wed 27 Mar 13

Folkestone Saint wrote:
@ Mel "don't judge them by an article you have read!" how else are we to judge, not that I was or want to. It is everyones own responsibility to make sure they line their ducks up, if you don't then why is it anyone else's problem. However as they both work they don't have an ice-cream in hells chance of getting a decent size council property so maybe this article will help.
The answer to that is DONT JUDGE THOSE YOU DONT KNOW simple all we have done is ask for help to make our daughters life better i would love to be able to have the money or income to private rent but unfortunately we dont and we were told by the council before Eliana was born that once she is here we will be rehoused after 3 months.. The property is impossible to ventilate efficiently due to 3 of us being in here we open windows have our extractor fans on we are not stupid....

Report this post »

illegal gook says...
8:01pm Wed 27 Mar 13

illegal gook wrote:
laurence86 wrote:
Hmmm being together for 6 months before having a kid. Says it all really.

I hope for the sake of little Eliana that they get there acts together. Either they need to sort the route cause and stop relying on the council to fix it or move out to private accommodation. Simples
We were actually together for 1 year before Eliana was born and dont you dare say we should get our acts together for her sake, we work to provide for our daughter and also our relationship is very strong before we actually got together we had been seeing eachother for a while....

DONT JUDGE ME BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO, I WILL DO ANYTHING TO GET THE BEST FOR MY DAUGHTER AND DEAL WITH CHALLENGING SITUATIONS EVERYDAY I GO TO WORK...

We get no financial help off any organization and are fed up of being told we shouldnt have had our daughter, things happen for a reason and i wouldnt change my daughter for anything...
Sorry we were together for 1 year before my partner fell pregnant...

Report this post »

mel1989 says...
8:06pm Wed 27 Mar 13

laurence86 wrote:
Hmmm being together for 6 months before having a kid. Says it all really.

I hope for the sake of little Eliana that they get there acts together. Either they need to sort the route cause and stop relying on the council to fix it or move out to private accommodation. Simples
How dare you make a comment like that, Eliana is a well looked after and loved. If anyone needs their acts pulling together, the council, housing association and you do.

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Best_Name_Ever says...
8:28pm Wed 27 Mar 13

Well, you got your publicity.

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illegal gook says...
8:36pm Wed 27 Mar 13

Best_Name_Ever wrote:
Well, you got your publicity.
Going to the papers was the last thing we wanted to do but if the council housing association were straight with us and then we wouldnt have a problem but we have been lied to constantly...

YOU THINK YOU CAN JUDGE ME AND MY FAMILY BUT YOU HAVE NO RIGHT YOU GIVE THE IMPRESSION OF A SAD EXCUSE OF A HUMAN BEING PRAYING UPON A YOUNG FAMILY ASKING FOR ADVICE AND HELP.....

Report this post »

Best_Name_Ever says...
8:39pm Wed 27 Mar 13

Hmmm, now who is judging? Kind of weakening your 'holier than thou'case I am afraid. What kind of impression do you think you are giving?

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illegal gook says...
8:49pm Wed 27 Mar 13

I am not judging you i am just saying the comments are disgusting and sound like they would come from that kind of person you may be a very nice person but the comments you have put are very judgmental and are not very nice... This article was not for people to feel sorry for us it was our last point of call for help...
I would also like to add when we went to the council to ask to speak for the Chief Housing Officer i wont say his name we were told by the lady at the desk he isnt and only deals with homeless people, only to find out yesterday after phoning the council that the gentleman we had asked for 2 weeks before was infact the housing officer that is how we have been treated lied to and made to feel like our daughters health doesnt matter...

Believe me if i could afford to rent privately i would....

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laurence86 says...
9:03pm Wed 27 Mar 13

If you are going to publicise aspects of your lives people will be inclined to judge you. This will especially happen when you publicly announce that your failure to resolve a simple issue like mould in your home is affecting the health of your daughter. Typing your opinion in bold does not make it any more valid but rather shows that you have a limited vocabulary. Basingstoke rent prices are extremely low, plenty of other couples manage to rent and buy houses on single income minimum wage jobs. You have to say "can" to say "can't".

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illegal gook says...
9:15pm Wed 27 Mar 13

Laurence i would like to assure you that my vocabulary is not limited and that you seriously do not no what we have tried to remove the mould as it says in the article part of our roof wasnt sealed and was allowing rain and snow and anything else into our loft which was 1 reason every time we cleared the mould it would just come back also having 3 people in 1 room including a young child makes the problem worse as we are unable to keep windows open all night like we did before my daughter was born... this problem has always been a problem in the flat which we tried to keep on top of.... and it is now 2 years down the line now my child is suffering from problems we believe are caused by the mold that we have asked the housing association to help which was only resolved once this story had been written....

Keep your opinions of my family to yourself and dont make us out to be inadequate and uneducated...

You dont know me and you dont know our full situation...

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laurence86 says...
9:33pm Wed 27 Mar 13

It's spelt "know" not "no"

Stop thinking of yourself and your family as victims and actually figure out how you will resolve your situation and move forward. There is lots of good suggestions such as buying a dehumidifier that you could get started with. Maybe you could try to fix the hole in your roof yourself, most people have to do a bit of DIY now and again.

However you decide to resolve the issue I genuinely do hope your daughter recovers form the effects soon.

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Folkestone Saint says...
9:37pm Wed 27 Mar 13

illegal gook wrote:
Folkestone Saint wrote:
@ Mel "don't judge them by an article you have read!" how else are we to judge, not that I was or want to. It is everyones own responsibility to make sure they line their ducks up, if you don't then why is it anyone else's problem. However as they both work they don't have an ice-cream in hells chance of getting a decent size council property so maybe this article will help.
The answer to that is DONT JUDGE THOSE YOU DONT KNOW simple all we have done is ask for help to make our daughters life better i would love to be able to have the money or income to private rent but unfortunately we dont and we were told by the council before Eliana was born that once she is here we will be rehoused after 3 months.. The property is impossible to ventilate efficiently due to 3 of us being in here we open windows have our extractor fans on we are not stupid....
READ WHAT I SAID, not what you want it to say and you may find I was showing empathy towards you, I understand you are upset with some comments but I have never called you stupid, I have noticed that you have had a go at those you don't agree with but not thanked those who have offerd advice, but I'm not judging

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illegal gook says...
11:11pm Wed 27 Mar 13

Laurence we live on the 2nd floor and cannot get to the vent that is broken that is why i havnt attempted to fix myself dont try to say i am lazy and just expect others to sort the problems as i have said i have tried to sort the mold but we havnt been able to sort it properly as there are problems with the issue... also i do not have access to scaffolding to get onto the roof to sort the problem like i said you do not know my situation so please just stop trying to make us out to be lazy...

we do not want anyone to feel sorry for us the purpose of this was to raise the problem that we didnt get any support from the landlord/housing association since the article also the quote from the housing isnt completely true and has made us out to be stupid....

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illegal gook says...
11:17pm Wed 27 Mar 13

Folkstone saint i am not having a go at you as you have not judged your comments have been helpful i was saying i wish people wouldnt judge us just because of an article they have read in the paper.
I have said what i have to say and didnt think people would be so quick to actually make us out to be something we are not like i said this article was just to ask for help which some people have dont others have just taken it as a chance to have a dig at us...

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laurence86 says...
11:33pm Wed 27 Mar 13

For future reference should you wish to get the landlord or housing association to take note of your plight you would be better off speaking to a solicitor rather than going to the press. If you can try to get your hands on a book called S.U.M.O.

Life is tough and thing are never easy but there is always a way and anything is possible.

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Sam_Walker123456 says...
8:37am Thu 28 Mar 13

Ruben says, '..also having 3 people in 1 room including a young child makes the problem worse as we are unable to keep windows open all night like we did before my daughter was born..'
Why can't you leave a window open all night? Provided your baby is wrapped up warm in bed then it will be far healthier for all of you to have a bedroom window slightly open to provide ventilation and help reduce moisture.

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Folkestone Saint says...
9:19am Thu 28 Mar 13

illegal gook wrote:
Folkstone saint i am not having a go at you as you have not judged your comments have been helpful i was saying i wish people wouldnt judge us just because of an article they have read in the paper.
I have said what i have to say and didnt think people would be so quick to actually make us out to be something we are not like i said this article was just to ask for help which some people have dont others have just taken it as a chance to have a dig at us...
Have you tried citizens advice for help, or if you have legal cover on your insurance use them(if not get it anyway), and take solace in the fact that some of the posters are judging "you" based on "themselves". I do feel some have been sladerous though.
Good luck

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illegal gook says...
10:51am Thu 28 Mar 13

Sam walker we leave our windows open for as long as we can which is all day and evening until we go to bed as it has been below freezing so my daughter would get very cold in the night even if she is wrapped up warm as we cant completely cover her so it is safer to leave the window open in the room... dont know why you all feel the need to make us out to be bad people... we have been to citizens advice and they said going to the paper could help...

we didnt expect people to get nasty just because we have tried everything we know and needed more help...

Folkstone thank you for being human and having the heart to give advice instead of making us out to be people we are not...

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illegal gook says...
10:53am Thu 28 Mar 13

Also laurence you do not know the life i have lived thank you and have been through an lot in the 23 years so far...
So i know life is tough and all we asked for is advice not an easy way out...

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laurence86 says...
12:46pm Thu 28 Mar 13

Ruben that is a really defeatist victim attitude, I am simply trying to point out that where there is a will there is a way. If you need a bigger property then move out, it is possible on the salary’s you both are on. You could easily move to a two bedroom house such as:

http://www.rightmove
.co.uk/property-to-r
ent/property-2613734
4.html

My calculations are based on minimum wage

Part time work at JJ’s – 20 hours a week @ £6.19 = £123.8
Full time work as carer – 40 hours a week @ £6.19 = £247.6

Hence weekly income of £123.80 + £247.60 = £371.40

Thus your combined annual salary would be £371.40 X 52 = £19,312.80

Assuming the government TAX you based on one salary and not two separate salaries’s your income after TAX would be £15,450.24

This gives you a combined monthly income of £1,287.52.

If you take the rent of the house I found out your left over cash is £1,287.52 - £695.00 = £592.52

Now admittedly £592.52 does not seem a lot for all your living expenses but I have done it and there are hundreds of other people who manage it every month. I would also like to remind you that these calculations are all based on minimum wage not whatever your actual wage is.

There you go Ruben an exit strategy for your problem, I know this would potentially make money very tight but if you manage your expenditure you would be able to provide your daughter with a mould free home, her own room and even a garden. You say you are asking for advice and not an easy way out, this is by no means an easy way out but it’s the best advice I can give.

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illegal gook says...
1:12pm Thu 28 Mar 13

Laurence we have looked into it and it would leave us short my partner doesnt have contracted hours due to havin to look after eliana also... i am not tryin to be a victim i am just sayin i know life is hard due to previous experiences... like i said we asked for help not to be slated you could have wrote you last comment before which does help we have looked into private rent and due to current circumstance we couldnt afford it... all we asked for in the article was help to get the problem sorted nothing else...

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mel1989 says...
1:41pm Thu 28 Mar 13

Water bills, tv license, gas, electric, food, child's needs, car... All this adds up, I think you should concentrate on your own life and stop thinking you have the know how way out... You clearly are deluded and do not have the worries they have... Do you have children... Id say you don't going by the low amount of support we should get in a community, but that's human race these days... Attack our own! Show some compassion and stop making these people feel any lower than they do already! Think to yourself... That As a father and as a man, that this has all made Reuben (how you spell his name) feel crap that he's not been able to do what is needed for his family, the calculation is wrong because you've not taken on the tax... They have no money, if they could do it any other way they would....

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mel1989 says...
1:41pm Thu 28 Mar 13

Water bills, tv license, gas, electric, food, child's needs, car... All this adds up, I think you should concentrate on your own life and stop thinking you have the know how way out... You clearly are deluded and do not have the worries they have... Do you have children... Id say you don't going by the low amount of support we should get in a community, but that's human race these days... Attack our own! Show some compassion and stop making these people feel any lower than they do already! Think to yourself... That As a father and as a man, that this has all made Reuben (how you spell his name) feel crap that he's not been able to do what is needed for his family, the calculation is wrong because you've not taken on the tax... They have no money, if they could do it any other way they would....

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laurence86 says...
2:37pm Thu 28 Mar 13

I’m sorry I spelt Reuben wrong I took the spelling from the article.

Mel I have deducted TAX it’s why the salary drops form £19,312.80 to £15,450.24 after TAX.

You are correct Mel that doesn’t leave a lot for expenses, which is exactly why hundreds of households have to budget very carefully and other dad’s have to do 70 hour weeks or work a second job.

I’m sorry if my views on this offend you, but in my view a father will do whatever it takes to ensure that his children are provided for. And words such as “can’t” and “couldn’t” don’t even come into their vocabulary. There are lots of ways out of this and it is affecting the health of a child so find a way to better your situation before it causes her any long term health issues.

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HC1 says...
3:52pm Thu 28 Mar 13

Blimey!...Igo away for a day and come back to the Jeremy Kyle show in Print!
Calm down Girls and Boys!

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W Wallace says...
5:03pm Thu 28 Mar 13

Personally I don't give a monkey's about this couples situation, their history, their income large or small. I do not think any child should have to live in these conditions in modern day Britain, yes I know it happens everywhere but it doesn't mean it's right yes there are things they can do but seriously three people one room all wrong.

I hope you get the issue sorted if only for the sake of your daughter.

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Sam_Walker123456 says...
5:23pm Thu 28 Mar 13

illegal gook wrote:
Sam walker we leave our windows open for as long as we can which is all day and evening until we go to bed as it has been below freezing so my daughter would get very cold in the night even if she is wrapped up warm as we cant completely cover her so it is safer to leave the window open in the room... dont know why you all feel the need to make us out to be bad people... we have been to citizens advice and they said going to the paper could help... we didnt expect people to get nasty just because we have tried everything we know and needed more help... Folkstone thank you for being human and having the heart to give advice instead of making us out to be people we are not...
Ruben, I can understand your anger because of some of the other comments, but mine was a sensible suggestion and I was not having a pop at you. You are new to being parents and I can tell from your posts that you are naturally very protective of your first child. If you have more children you will probably become more relaxed about them. There is no chance that your baby will suffer at night if a window is left ajar - I know because I am one of the latest in generations of Walkers raised this way with no ill effects. Some of us were raised in cramped, unheated (one coal fire only), but well ventilated, homes. To this day I cannot sleep if the window is closed. At the risk of alarmng you, it is much safer for the whole family to sleep in a well ventilated house and bedroom to reduce the health risks of gas leaks or carbon monoxide.
One final piece of advice - don't respond to those you disagree with or who insult you. It is a pointless and fruitless exercise because you don't even know who they are.

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MouldUk says...
5:53pm Thu 28 Mar 13

I am not sure why the point seem to have got lost ?

A family are living in a tenanted property.
The landlord , Sovereign, have a responsibility to provide a property fit for purpose.
We have Housing Acts, Health & Safety Executice, Environmental Health, MP's , GP,s Health Visitors, Health Protection Agency and Basic Human Rights.

The family are making every effort to progresses matters and prioritise their daughters health. There attentions should be focused in that direction instead of having to defend there efforts.

Perhaps there is a retired solicitors commenting that would like to offer such a family a little time to help them construct a letter? Or a MP, GP etc that would write a letter of support?
Maybe a local remediation company would welcome the opportunity to assist the family and the paper will be able to report on the support of community?

What about starting a local group for people in a similar situation? A group always get more support than a lone family.

http://bit.ly/YLNqAq

Click on the link to vote along with others to raise awareness and campaign for change. You can give three votes!!

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jonone says...
8:34pm Thu 28 Mar 13

mel1989 wrote:
Water bills, tv license, gas, electric, food, child's needs, car... All this adds up, I think you should concentrate on your own life and stop thinking you have the know how way out... You clearly are deluded and do not have the worries they have... Do you have children... Id say you don't going by the low amount of support we should get in a community, but that's human race these days... Attack our own! Show some compassion and stop making these people feel any lower than they do already! Think to yourself... That As a father and as a man, that this has all made Reuben (how you spell his name) feel crap that he's not been able to do what is needed for his family, the calculation is wrong because you've not taken on the tax... They have no money, if they could do it any other way they would....
Good God. Someone spends what would appear to be a lot of time putting together a suggestion as to how this couple could help themselves and receives this torrent of abuse in return. And you call other people's behaviour disgusting. Go and have a LONG look in the mirror love - assuming it doesn't shatter.

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popleyrebel2 says...
9:26pm Thu 28 Mar 13

The Gazette should end this now, if this couple didn’t feel bad enough then some of the comments on here could have very serious consequences as to their state of mind.
Please, "end it now"

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Folkestone Saint says...
11:47pm Thu 28 Mar 13

Sam_Walker123456 wrote:
illegal gook wrote:
Sam walker we leave our windows open for as long as we can which is all day and evening until we go to bed as it has been below freezing so my daughter would get very cold in the night even if she is wrapped up warm as we cant completely cover her so it is safer to leave the window open in the room... dont know why you all feel the need to make us out to be bad people... we have been to citizens advice and they said going to the paper could help... we didnt expect people to get nasty just because we have tried everything we know and needed more help... Folkstone thank you for being human and having the heart to give advice instead of making us out to be people we are not...
Ruben, I can understand your anger because of some of the other comments, but mine was a sensible suggestion and I was not having a pop at you. You are new to being parents and I can tell from your posts that you are naturally very protective of your first child. If you have more children you will probably become more relaxed about them. There is no chance that your baby will suffer at night if a window is left ajar - I know because I am one of the latest in generations of Walkers raised this way with no ill effects. Some of us were raised in cramped, unheated (one coal fire only), but well ventilated, homes. To this day I cannot sleep if the window is closed. At the risk of alarmng you, it is much safer for the whole family to sleep in a well ventilated house and bedroom to reduce the health risks of gas leaks or carbon monoxide.
One final piece of advice - don't respond to those you disagree with or who insult you. It is a pointless and fruitless exercise because you don't even know who they are.
I used to live in Hazlewood Close back in the 70's, nice house but we still had ice on the inside of my bedroom window during winter, we survived

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michds says...
9:22am Sat 30 Mar 13

I have met Heather through JJ's and a nicer girl you couldn't meet. She is extremely hard working and all the children love her. My 4yr old son loves it when she is on duty as she gives him a specially drawn smiley face for the red slide.
I can't believe some of the nasty comments on here. You should all be ashamed of yourselves. How about a little compassion for your fellow man? As MouldUK pointed out they are living in a tenanted property. Their landlord is responsible for the upkeep of the building. It should be fit for purpose. After months of watching their beautiful little girl get ill with various different illnesses, as a last resort they have approached the gazette. They do not deserve any of the vitriol thrown at them.
In an ideal world they should be able to move to better housing but financially that is not possible. It's not just about the increase in rent but getting together a deposit, extra furniture, extra bill costs. They are trying their very best, which is a lot more than can be said about a lot of people.
I wish Heather & Rueben that financially I was in a position to help you, sadly I'm not. I hope for your sakes it gets sorted soon.

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Mrs G of bstoke says...
4:20pm Wed 17 Apr 13

Hi All! Blimey I read about 2 thirds of the comments and gave up!

Rueben yourself and your family should just take the comments and accept that people will have a divided opinion on your situation and then accept that everyone is entitled to their opinion. You do not need to justify your living situation to ANYONE on here, stop biting and ignore it. You must be worn out! Some people do have some valid opinions but people will judge you from the limited info in your article........it happens everyday on here!

I too live in housing assoc with Sovereign Kingfisher with my husband. We too had a mould problem throughout our two bed house and we fought it and fought it. We treated all mouldy areas, we had an independent surveyor come round to give advice and he advised us to dig a French Drain around the outside walls (which good ol' hubby did while I stood there filing my nails!)of the house as the muddy wet soil was sitting against the house causing mould inside when the heat of the house hit the freezing cold walls. He also said.....stop breathing, cooking and showering (tongue in cheek of course). Occupants can be the cause and preventors of mould. We have eradicated ours and still get a slightly damp smell in the small room where our baby will be (soon!) but we installed dehumidifiers in every room (£2.99 from shops) and cleaned the mould away with antifungicide stuff (smells like bleach) repainted over the walls with a special type of paint (don't ask me what I just chose the colour!) We also have our trickle vents open all the time (even in cold weather) and used our extractors in the kitchen and bathroom when cooked or showered (i'm not saying you don't). We have a tumble dryer vented outside instead of drying clothes inside. It worked.....it's gone and the housing assoc did nothing.

When you take one room which is the living area for three humans, it causes condensation. Many people have the heating off during the day and then 'wack it up' when they get home......not good, keep your heating on low all day then increase moderately when needed. Wipe away any condensation you see gathering on the windows immediately, treat any mould with a fungicide solution. Theres a lot you can do to help the problem. If it was black mould and fatal, the housing assoc would have to do something but if it is normal household mildew and mould they will expect you to prevent it. Now before you all bite my head off......(here we go) I do work full time so does my husband and we have never claimed benefits! There, thats my disclaimer ;-p

Good luck on your fight with the bloomin' mould guys I know how horrible it is from personal experience. I hope your little girl gets better soon. I'm sorry to hear you had other maintenance like the water getting in but hopefully that has been fixed by the housing assoc now. With the warmer weather coming it might help you with drying out the mould and getting on top of it.

Now on a final note. Have you ever considered going on a home swap website where you might find someone in a 2 bed housing assoc property on their own who just want a studio flat as they can't afford the 2 bed or just want to downsize? (especially with the bedroom tax looming) You don't have to wait to be rehoused by the housing assoc there are other options. Also you can put in for a transfer which is where you don't need to wait for a swap.

Hope this has helped and good luck in the fight with the mould!

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