A grandmother living in a mould-ridden house was told by the local council to “stop calling”.
Joanne Smith, 55, first moved into the council house in Gateshead last December, but states that the property is covered with mould and damp, which is making her ill.
She alleges that the local authority tried to mask the damp by covering it with new wallpaper, however, due to the wet walls, it is now peeling off.
Despite constantly complaining to Gateshead Council about the state of her home, Smith feels like she is making no progress.
A grandmother living in mould-ridden has been told by Gateshead council to 'stop calling'
Newcastle Chronicle - Iain Buist
She told ChronicleLive: “I keep getting texts to say that they're coming out. I have a list of dates that they've given me for when they'll be here. I wait in the house all day waiting for them and when I ring up and ask when they're coming out I'm told that they haven't got anything booked in.
“They came out [on Wednesday] to fix the house alarm and the bath but went away without sorting it again. They've been to do the repointing on the outside of the house and said it was a two man job so went away - again.
“When I've complained about it all I was told 'well if you stopped ringing up it will get stored' and 'too many cooks spoil the broth', they're not bothered.”
Prior to moving into the property, the 55-year-old had to relocate to a hotel for a couple of months after sewage water flooded her previous home.
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During this period, Smith was undergoing chemotherapy for stage 3 VIN (vulval intraepithelial neoplasia).
The grandmother-of-five said she hoped her new home would be a fresh start after her health complications and bad luck with housing.
Smith, who suffers from asthma, said she has been ill ever since moving into the mould-riddled council house.
She was taken into hospital on Boxing Day after suffering from severe chest infections, which she blames on the state of the house, before being readmitted days later on New Year’s Eve.
Gateshead Council said they are aware of the problem and are working with the tenant to resolve it
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Her mental health has taken a heavy beating since moving into the property, being placed on anti-depressants as a result.
Smith said she has repeatedly contacted the council but has not had a visit from them.
She alleges she has also had to buy new doors and skirting boards due to the damage incurred by the mould.
A spokesperson for Gateshead Council said: “We are aware of the issues at the property, and are working with the tenant to resolve them as soon as possible.”
