‘Our walls are black and the smell is awful. It’s a living nightmare’

A FAMILY of six who have been living in a damp, mouldy house for eight months have spoken of their ‘living nightmare’.

Jane and Mark Letherland say the walls of their Lepton home are black and green, their beds are damp and the clothes of their four children are mouldy.

Despite complaining to Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing in February, they say the problems are getting worse. Now housing officials have promised to get work done.

Mrs Letherland, of Highgate Crescent, said: “The house is full of mould and it has been since February.

“Living in a damp house is making us all ill. We all have colds and chest infections we can’t shift. I am so fed-up of it.

“My daughter had to share a room with her three brothers as her room was so cold and damp she became ill.”

The problems started in February this year when the family discovered the walls behind a wardrobe were covered in mould. Clothing belonging to the children – Bethany, 12, Jordan, 10, Cameron, six and four-year-old Alex became green and had to be thrown away.

They complained to Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing and were told by an inspector the problem stemmed from condensation.

But eight months later the damp and mould has spread throughout their home; with no end to their problems in sight.

“Someone came to look at it and he said it was just a bit of condensation on our windows,” Mrs Letherland added. “A dehumidifier and extractor fan hasn’t even helped.

“All the walls are black and the smell is awful. We have waited and waited but it’s a living nightmare for us all.

“Our doctor said we shouldn’t be living in these conditions because of the effect it is having on our health.”

The family were told it could be up to three weeks before inspectors can re-asses their home.

Mrs Letherland added: “We have heard there are quite a few houses like this, but if nothing is done soon we will get legal advice because I do not want my children living like this any more.”

A spokeswoman for Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing they had taken a number of steps to diagnose the cause, and would be including it in a scheme to remove the insulation and re-point the wall.

She added: “We’re very sorry that Mrs Letherland is having such a problem.

“Now that we’re aware there is still a problem, we’ll be contacting Mrs Letherland so we can see what else can be done to help reduce the condensation until the insulation is removed and the wall is re-pointed. After this work has been done, we’ll treat the mould and re-plaster the affected walls.”