Host Stephen Mulhern expresses his “immense embarrassment” upon discovering that tenants residing in a bungalow he owns in Leicester have endured damp and moldy living conditions.
The 47-year-old celebrity is the proprietor of a property company named JFDI Productions, which manages several rental homes and is valued at over £4 million as per company records.
One tenant disclosed photographs of the bungalow he leases in Leicester, illustrating mold present on the walls and ceilings throughout the residence, as reported by the Big Issue.
In a conversation with the publication, the individual, who preferred to remain unnamed, stated he felt “resentful and isolated” after living with dampness and mold in the property for two years.
He noted that he and his flatmate first identified a damp issue during an annual inspection conducted by their management agent, Connells, a few years prior.
The two—who served as key workers during the pandemic—reported they pay £775 monthly for the accommodation.
Despite claiming they lodged multiple complaints with the management agency regarding the damp problem, they assert no measures have been taken, as the damp affects various rooms in the house.
They mentioned the agent had suggested they “ensure proper ventilation and maintain warmth in the house during the winter,” but the circumstances have only deteriorated.
“We remained patient, initially sending courteous emails. In later exchanges, my comments grew a bit more pointed,” he remarked.
Although they indicated that elevated humidity readings eventually prompted the management agency to implement “a positive input ventilation system,” they noted that this solution provided only temporary relief.
The tenant labeled Mulhern as “a millionaire profiting from our hardship”.
‘Incredibly embarrassed’ about the ‘unacceptable’ situation
In response to the condition of the property, a spokesperson for Mulhern informed Sky News that the presenter was “incredibly embarrassed to learn about this situation and the dreadful experience the tenant has encountered, which is undeniably unacceptable”.
They clarified that Mulhern had not been informed of any issues and had depended entirely on the management firm handling the property on his behalf.
They stated he has now “personally requested for a team of damp specialists to examine the property to ensure that the ventilation and mold issues are addressed as a priority”.
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Furthermore, they confirmed that the tenant was contacted “to convey sincere apologies for the distress and frustration caused by the management of this issue”.
They emphasized that the situation “falls far short of the standards Stephen expects, and he is making every effort to rectify this as soon as possible, with progress already underway”.
A spokesperson for Connells remarked to Sky News: “As agents, we operate on behalf of the landlord and we are continuing to collaborate with the landlord’s representative to resolve the issues highlighted.”
Mulhern, who was announced as the co-host of Dancing On Ice last year, replacing Philip Schofield, is set to present the new series of the show alongside Holly Willoughby when it premieres in January.