A disabled couple say their health is being impacted by the damp and mould that is blighting their Newcastle council house.
Steven and Michelle Rogers have lived in their Lemington house for 24 years, but they say damp and black mould inside their property has been ruining their home for the past couple of years.
Despite regular pleas to Newcastle City Council to fix a window which was not fitted or sealed properly, Steven claims that he is being 'passed from pillar to post' regarding the issue - and the couple's health is now failing.
Steven, 53, who suffers with heart issues, says his asthma is getting worse, with Michelle, 49, who only has one lung and suffers from COPD, having further difficulties breathing.
The couple say the issues at their Dene Avenue home are 'absolutely terrible' and that they have 'had enough'. A spokesperson for the local housing services was 'disappointed' a contractor had not yet attended the property after being requested to in December.
Steven and Michelle Rogers have lived in their Lemington house for 24 years, but they say damp and black mould inside their property has been ruining their home for the past couple of years
The couple say the issues at their Dene Avenue home are 'absolutely terrible' and that they have 'had enough'.
Despite regular pleas to Newcastle City Council to fix a window which was not fitted or sealed properly, Steven claims that he is being 'passed from pillar to post' regarding the issue - and the couple's health is now failing
Steven said: 'This has been going on since the back end of April.
'We've been reporting about our broken window in our home and I've had to seal it up myself with a door seal to stop the wind coming in.
'I've had inspectors out, damp teams, and they just keep passing me from pillar to post.
'We've had about four or five different people out and they say the same thing. I've had a housing officer out because the whole kitchen was damp, the whole gable end.
'We've been fighting for that for over two years and a new kitchen was put in but there was water running down the walls the other week.'
Steven claims one of his windows was not fitted or sealed properly and that a council worker visited their home and said the damp and mould was 'absolutely disgusting'.
But due to the couple's disability issues, Steven says the mould and damp is now severely impacting their health.
Steven continued: 'I've got asthma and heart problems, I've been back and forth to the doctors with my chest and they've put me on tablets for my asthma, which I've never suffered bad with.
'My wife, she's got one lung and COPD, her breathing has been horrific lately. She's had to have a stairlift fitted.
'Where we sleep, the damp is behind us. We've had to buy a new bed because the mould was actually growing on the back of the bed.'
Speaking of the delays in rectifying the issues, Steven added: 'It's absolutely terrible, I've had enough. They're promising us with this and that, and there's just nothing at all happening...it's affecting me mentally.'
Steven claims one of his windows was not fitted or sealed properly and that a council worker visited their home and said the damp and mould was 'absolutely disgusting
Steven claims one of his windows was not fitted or sealed properly and that a council worker visited their home and said the damp and mould was 'absolutely disgusting
Due to the couple's disability issues, Steven says the mould and damp is now severely impacting their health
Helen Sammut-Smith, Assistant Director Housing Services at Your Homes Newcastle, says a new loft insulation was installed following a survey of the property in January 2023.
The service say they were told by a contractor there was no issue with the window, but requested an additional survey following another complaint. It also came back showing no issue.
A housing officer was then sent to the house and realised the window need a repair to the seal, which Ms Sammut-Smith says a contractor was ordered in December and was 'disappointed that they have not followed this up before now'.
The assistant director said: 'One of our housing officers then visited the property and realised that the window does in fact need a repair to the seal, and we requested this from the same contractor in December.
'We are disappointed that they have not followed this up before now and have been assured that someone will attend the property this week.'
