A HORRIFIED family has claimed the black mould in their home gave their baby sepsis while their three-year-old fell through a rot-riddled wall.
The family of four are at their wits end after being forced to live in the mouldy flat for over a year.
Dom Shillito and his partner Shannon Walker blame the mould for giving their child sepsis[/caption]
The couple moved into their new home in Leeds in 2021[/caption]
Dom Shillito, 26, and his partner Sharon Walker, 25, moved into their Leeds home in October 2021, with their three-year-old son and a baby on the way.
The flat on Lambardly House Southwood Close is owned by Yorkshire Housing.
However, just a few months after settling in, the couple’s dream turned into a nightmare.
Dom, who works as a builder, explained that after the first winter, they began to notice bits of mould appearing on the walls.
He told YorkshireLive that they mentioned it to Yorkshire Housing but no long-term action seemed to be taken.
He explained that they would come and clean it out, but it would always return.
This led to the problem only getting worse – but a year after first moving in to the flat, an entire wall collapsed.
Dom explained that he was hosting friends when he leaned against the living room wall and it fell through.
Once it gave way, it exposed a massive black mould in the wall cavity.
Yorkshire Housing later repaired the plasterboard and the pair hoped that this would draw an end to their mould problems.
However, it started growing again soon after.
In fears that their young children would touch it, Dom and Shannon did the best they could to clean the mould off themselves.
Not long after, Dom discovered yet another problem with the flat.
He explained that his sons were taking a bath when he heard a loud crash.
Yorkshire Housing repaired the plasterboard and the pair hoped that this would bring an end to their mould problems[/caption]
The mould caused health problems for the pair’s children[/caption]
To the couple’s horror, their eldest son, who had been standing in the tub, had fallen through the side wall.
Dom said the back of the wall was also covered in mould.
The family has spoken out about how living in the flat has caused additional health problems for their children.
Dom told YorkshireLive: “Shannon has really bad health anxiety now and cries at night about the situation.”
He added that his eldest’s asthma is aggravated by the mould.
Dom said: “He is off school this week as he has been coughing then being sick and crying before falling back to sleep. He panics he cannot breathe.”
As well as this, the couple’s youngest son, Tommy, has a pacemaker after falling ill at just eight years old due to a chest infection which turned into sepsis.
They family believe this was also caused by the mould.
Dom added: “The kids are vulnerable and could die – so it keeps us up at night thinking how unsafe it is here.”
He described the moment that his son fell through the wall as the breaking point for the family.
Desperate for a way out, the dad said that they would buy or rent elsewhere if they could but confessed that they are unable to afford the move.
Since speaking with YorkshireLive, Yorkshire Housing has been in contact with the family.
They have offered to transfer them to a new home within eight weeks, reimburse bills and offered to do repairs to the property immediately.
Adam Hinchliff, Director of Homes at Yorkshire Housing, told The Sun: “We know this has been a difficult and worrying time for the family, and we’re sorry for any stress this has caused.
“We’re taking this very seriously to make sure the issues are resolved promptly.
“I’ve been to see the family to listen to their concerns, understand the issues and talk about how we can work together to resolve them.
“When problems were reported in the past, we investigated and treated mould caused by condensation in the home.
“The mechanical ventilation system in the flat this is designed to prevent these issues wasn’t being used, so we’re working with the customer to help them better understand how to use it.
“We accept that some repairs took longer than they should have, and we’ve apologised to the family.
“We’re now looking into how this happened as part of our complaints process, to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
What is mould and how to get rid of it?
Mould is more likely to grow during the winter months.
Olivia Young, Product Development Scientist at Astonish revealed exactly why this is.
“Unfortunately, mould is a common problem many people face during winter. It thrives in conditions that are warm and damp, so your bathrooms are likely to be the most affected place.
“That said, during the colder months most rooms in your home could be vulnerable to mould growing.
“This occurs primarily from condensation that builds up on your windows when you’ve got your radiators on.
“If you think about it, when windows and doors are closed, there’s not much chance for the air to circulate and the moisture to make a swift exit.
“This build up is what can cause dreaded mould to make an appearance, especially in bathrooms, as it creates that warm and wet environment that is a breeding ground for mould.
“If left untreated, not only is it unsightly but it can also pose a serious risk to your health, so it’s really important you treat it.
“The key to tackle mould is to act fast.
“Try to come into as little contact with it as you can. So, grab your gloves, tie up your hair and get to work to remove any signs of mould as soon as you notice them.
“To keep mould at bay, there are some simple solutions you can introduce throughout home.
“The first is keep it ventilated. Yes, even in the cold winter months try to leave your bathroom window open for at least 10/15 minutes post shower or bath. This will get rid of any excess moisture quickly preventing mould gathering.
“If you’re having a repeat problem with mould in one particular area, it might be because the humidity levels are too high. You can get a dehumidifier that will help keep the levels low and reduce the risk of mould returning.
“The golden rule to remember when dealing with mould is the quicker you can treat it, the better. If you leave it, it will only get worse so never ignore it!
“To successfully get rid of mould every time, I recommend opting for the UK’s No 1 Mould & Mildew Remover, that effectively removes mould and mildew stains almost instantly, with no scrubbing necessary.”
