Pregnant mother, 21, claims her 18-month-old daughter has been rushed to intensive care with breathing issues TWICE because of horrific mould and damp in their council flat
- Courtney Hawkins told council 20 times about mould but nothing has been done
A pregnant mother claims that she rushed her 18-month-old daughter to intensive care twice with breathing difficulties due to ‘horrific’ mould and damp in their council flat.
Courtney Hawkins lives in an two-bedroom property in the Kenton area of Newcastle with her daughter Savannah.
The 21-year-old said she has reported issues of leaks, damp and mould to Newcastle City Council between 15 and 20 times over the two years she has lived there but that ‘nothing has been done about it’.
The conditions are so bad that Ms Hawkins, who is expecting her second child in March, has been forced to sleep in her living room as her own bedding is soaked wet with dampness, while Savannah sleeps round her grandmother’s every night.
She also said her daughter, who has been in and out of hospital five times, has been put in an oxygen mask in hospital and has two inhalers as a result of the conditions in the property.
Pregnant mother Courtney Hawkins, 21, pictured with her 18-month daughter Savannah
A look at the mould and dampness in her flat which hospitalised her daughter five times
‘I have got leaks, damp and mould in my daughter’s bedroom. My bedroom is much worse, it’s really bad,’ she said.
Shocking images show inside of mould-infested rented family home as father tells of his fears his children ‘could die’ after struggling to breathe
‘I haven’t had my daughter living here for quite a while now because it’s absolutely ridiculous. I get my daughter through the day but I can’t have her staying here at night time. I have got to have her at my mam’s house because her breathing gets really bad.
‘I’m so worried about my daughter. She has been in intensive care twice with her breathing. She was on an oxygen mask and she had a nasal cannular up her nose to give her oxygen. She’s been in hospital quite a few times with her breathing.
‘One time, when she was in, it came back as bronchitis. The second time they tested her they weren’t sure what it could be. She had bad breathing then she started getting a cold. She’s been put on two inhalers so she’s got to take the inhalers everyday.
‘They even got a social worker from the hospital to write a letter to the council to try and get it sorted out for us. They still didn’t sort it out even though the hospital social worker wrote a letter to the council explaining everything that had happened.
‘I don’t think they quite understand how bad it can be on people’s mental health and underlying health conditions. My daughter’s only got one kidney. I just think it’s really disgusting.
‘My daughter should be living here with me. I shouldn’t have to send her away at night to stay at my mam’s house. She should be here with me.’
Ms Hawkins said around four months ago two inspectors from the local authority came out and visited the property. She said she was told they would refer the issues to the damp and mould team, but she has heard nothing since.
She said that the ongoing issues, and not being able to stay in the same home as her young daughter, have had a negative impact on her mental health.
The 21-year-old mother has to sleep in the living room while Savannah stays at her nan’s
‘I can’t even stay in my own bed, I have got to stay in the living room,’ she said.
‘When I am staying in my bedroom, my bedding is full of damp. It’s literally soaked wet. My wallpaper is starting to peel off, it’s covered in black mould.
‘The council just keep saying they’ll get in touch with the damp and mould team. They said they will get in touch to arrange a time to come out but they never did. My daughter’s granddad keeps getting on the phone to them.
‘It’s really bad and it’s really depressing. I have been put on antidepressants by my doctor.
‘I’m just really not happy with them. I think that they need to up their game and start doing their jobs and taking responsibility.’
Ms Hawkins said she is desperate to move to another property which is more suitable for her and two children, however she said she is currently classed as Band D – low housing need. This means those in Band A, B and C will be given priority over her.
Your Homes Newcastle, which manages the property on behalf of the house, has issued an apology.
Despite contacting Newcastle City Council 20 times about the mould, nothing has been done
Helen Sammut-Smith, Assistant Director Housing Services at YHN said: ‘We are sorry that Ms Hawkins has experienced these issues with her flat and are working with her to resolve them.
‘Our contractor completed a survey in August that reported minor works to us in September. Although there was evidence of condensation and some staining to decoration, damp meter readings taken at the time were low and the works were prioritised accordingly.
‘We attended mid-November to complete a mould treatment and check the levels of loft insulation but were not granted access. We have contacted Ms Hawkins again to arrange for a surveyor to review her property, and this will take place Wednesday morning at Ms Hawkins’ earliest convenience.
‘Ms Hawkins also mentioned that she would like to move from her flat as she is struggling with the stairs now that she is pregnant and has a toddler. We will also review her banding based on this new information and work with her to look for a more suitable property.’
Ms Hawkins told Chronicle Live that she received a leaflet through her door last month saying she has missed a repair but had no idea that anyone was coming out as she wasn’t given an appointment.
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