A YOUNG South Ham family who spoke of their “house hell” earlier this year claim “disgusting” condensation and mould have now returned.

In March, Jack McCall told The Gazette he feared for his two-yearold daughter Amelia’s health after an infestation of mould and damp blighted his rented property in Pinkerton Road.

The 46-year-old, who lives with his daughter and partner Sam Bailey, 28, in the Sovereign Housing Association-owned flat had initially hoped the problem had gone after his home was cleaned up by staff from Sovereign.

But now, they say the problem has returned and he is hoping this time Sovereign will resolve the issue for good.

“My daughter’s health is getting worse,” Mr McCall told The Gazette.

“She is constantly coughing and getting colds which are just not going away. We’ve gone to the doctors and they say she’s ill with a chest infection potentially caused by the disgusting mould in her room and the house.

“There is condensation in the rooms but we can’t open the windows, especially in this weather, because it’s so cold.”

Mr McCall and Miss Bailey are forced to clean the windows and their sills every day and are constantly buying new netting.

Along with Mr McCall and his family, five other individuals contacted The Gazette earlier this year to speak of their “hell” with Sovereign properties in South Ham.

A spokesperson from Sovereign said the housing association had spent over £100,000 upgrading some of its homes in Basingstoke across the year.

Works included new radiators, kitchen and bathroom extractor fans and cavity wall insulation.

The spokesperson said that following a recent visit to the family it found no signs of damp and mould.

However, there were some signs of condensation, on which Sovereign were able to offer some advice.

She said: “We were disappointed to hear of our resident’s complaint as we’ve been working hard to improve homes in the South Ham area.”

She added: “We’ve also been in regular contact with residents, both to make sure the works are making a difference and to provide advice on how some simple actions such as opening windows regularly can allow condensation to evaporate and stop mould from forming. We are in frequent contact with the resident.

“Mould can be more common at this time of year as the temperature drops outside, creating condensation inside, particularly in bathrooms.

“We’ve got lots of advice on our website, sovereign.org.uk/ mould, or get in touch with us on 0800 5872325.”