My mould riddled flat is making my family ill – I’m worried sick

DEAR DEIDRE: WE have to spray our two children with deodorant every day before school because their clothes smell of mould.

Our flat is riddled with it. I’m a man of 32 and my wife is 29.

Our kids are aged six and eight. It’s a council flat and not long after we moved in, mould appeared. 

We complained and the council came and painted over it.

The mould has returned and our emails are being ignored. 

The problem is, the kids have constant runny noses and chesty coughs. I’m terrified one of us is going to become really sick.

DEIDRE SAYS: Your living conditions are completely unacceptable. Prolonged exposure to mould can be lethal. Write again to your council to complain.

Copy in your doctor, your MP and the Social Housing Ombudsman (lgo.org.uk).

The Government is introducing laws requiring housing associations to meet set time frames for inspecting damp and mould and carrying out urgent repairs, so it would help if you mention Awaab’s Law – a campaign for new laws after the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in Rochdale. 

And  Shelter (shelter.org. uk) can advise you on your housing rights.