Sheffield Mum Fears for Baby’s Health as Black Mould Threatens Council House Ceiling
A young mother from Sheffield has expressed deep concern for her baby’s health after discovering extensive black mould and a dangerously cracked ceiling in the council house she is due to move into. Angel Peet, 24, was eagerly anticipating settling down with her four-month-old son, who suffers from kidney problems, and the severe condition of the property has dashed her 17-year-old sister’s hopes.
Angel, who has been living in temporary accommodation provided by Roundabout Homeless Charity for over a year, was finally offered a council house in Middlewood in late July after being on Sheffield City Council‘s priority housing list for eight months. However, she noticed a crack in the downstairs ceiling during a visit to the property on July 30. Despite asking if there might be mould or dampness behind it, she was reassured by a council officer that there was no such issue and that the crack was scheduled to be replastered.
When she returned the next day to begin preparations for decorating, Angel discovered that the ceiling was unrepaired, covered in black mould, and on the verge of collapsing. “I reported it straight away,” Angel said. “I don’t understand how they thought the property was in a livable condition, especially when I have a four-month-old baby with health problems, and me and my sister both suffer from asthma.”
A council surveyor suggested replacing only the worst-affected portion of the ceiling, a recommendation Angel strongly opposed. “You can literally see spores of black mould all over the ceiling, so I put my foot down and said the whole thing needs replacing. They also sent two decorators who suggested painting over it—I told them that wasn’t an option either,” she said.
Angel claims the surveyor initially told her that repairs could only be completed in January 2024 due to a backlog in the S5/S6 area. However, after she threatened to take the issue to her local MP, the surveyor agreed to replace the entire ceiling, with Work expected to begin in September.
Faced with the impending end of her notice period in her temporary accommodation, Angel has no choice but to move into the mould-ridden house this week, raising concerns about the impact on her son’s health. “I’ve spent quite a bit of time in the house decorating over the past couple of weeks, and because of the mould spores and my asthma, it has properly killed my chest,” she explained. “My sister, who has severe asthma, hasn’t visited the property yet, and I’ve tried to keep her away because I don’t want her to be affected either.”
Angel’s fears are heightened by the tragic death of Awaab Ishak, a two-year-old boy who died in 2020 from a respiratory condition caused by mould in his Rochdale home. The incident led to the introduction of ‘Awaab’s Law,’ mandating strict time limits for social landlords to address dampness and mould.
“The council is supposed to have put all these new regulations in place, but I feel like they’re not even doing it. I’ve heard of so many families with kids living with mould in their properties, but the council just doesn’t seem to be bothered. It’s disgusting,” Angel said.
Councillor Douglas Johnson, Chair of the Housing Policy Committee, defended the council’s efforts, stating, “As one of the largest social landlords in the country, Sheffield City Council is committed to providing the highest quality housing we can. Unfortunately, some hidden mould and plaster damage was uncovered by the tenant when redecorating ahead of moving in. We have since carried out Work to deal with that mould.”
A council spokesperson added that damp, mould, and condensation are challenges faced by local authorities across the country and that complaints are prioritized and responded to as quickly as possible. Regarding Angel’s situation, the spokesperson noted, “Work will be undertaken as soon as possible, but it can take some time as it is a planned repair, and there is currently a backlog of repair jobs of this type. This decision was taken as there is not believed to be a risk to the tenant.”
Despite some mould treatment being applied to the ceiling and walls, Angel remains deeply concerned about her family’s health and will closely monitor the situation. “I’m just going to have to keep my eye on it for now and hope that it doesn’t get any worse while we’re living in it,” she said.
Angel Peet is set to relocate to the council residence with her four-month-old son, who is suffering from kidney issues.
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