My four children and I are trapped in a tiny mold-infested bedroom – we can’t breathe properly and we’re all sick
A DISTRESSED mum-of-four says her whole family is struggling to breathe after being trapped in a tiny mold-infested bedroom.
Kaylee Templeton, 29, moved into her first home with her son Trey, now 10, in August 2013.
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First a two-bedroom London The apartment had everything she needed until she gave birth to three more children: Kaiden, nine, Makayla, six, and Evelyn, three.
Their house quickly became crowded, and Mom hoped to quickly find another place to live to meet their needs.
But Kayleigh claims their situation has worsened since then, as the mold began to spread through their home in Kingston.
And although they are recent received a mold washit begins to return rapidly and affects the health of her children.
A worried mum said: “My children are breathing mold every day and it’s causing them to have difficulty breathing,
“I’m worried about their lungs and long term effects it will have on them.
“I already had to take two to the doctors because of constant coughing.
“I also worry about their emotional state because of the stress of being on top of each other in that tiny space.
“I have to try and hold it all together in front of my kids so they’re happy and safe, but it’s getting unbearable.”
Kayleigh claims that as her children get older and desperately need privacy, fights and arguments happen daily out of frustration.
All four of her children currently share a bedroom, and the disorder has caused her son Cayden, who has autism, to lash out and punch holes in the wall.
I have to try to keep it all together in front of my kids so they’re happy and safe, but it’s getting unbearable.’
Kaylee Templeton, 29 years old
She said: “I fear he will seriously harm himself or those around him – it would be tragic if that happened.
“He started wetting the bed again and I think a lot of that has to do with the stress of our lives.
“I can’t work anymore because of his needs and I know if he had a place to run it would help him and I could go back to work.”
Kaylee claims she initially applied to PA Housing in October 2020 for new housing and hoped to be put on the priority list.
But she was allegedly repeatedly told that her only option was to continue bidding on other available properties pending review, whether they were suitable or not.
“NOBODY CARES ABOUT US”
Now she’s sharing her ordeal in a bid to raise awareness, and says the situation is affecting her parenting.
Kayleigh added: “I can’t get over the disappointment of my children and I feel like such a failure.
“I cannot fix the situation we are in and it saddens me to know that the only option we have is forcing my son to harm himself to relieve the stress.
“It’s been so hard for me to be a good mom, and my family needs a healthy space where they don’t have to breathe mold.”
She continued: “They need privacy and room to relax after school without being on top of each other.
“All my children should not be squeezed into a bedroom with two bunk beds, especially my older sons and sisters.
“It makes us feel isolated and like no one cares about us.”
Ian Watts, chief executive of customer services at PA Housing, said: “We are very sorry that Kayleigh and her family are living in a house that is now too small for them and that they have had problems with damp and mould.
“Our first priority is to eliminate any mold as quickly as possible. Our contractor completed this treatment earlier in March and we apologize that it was not done sooner.
“Our inspector also carried out an inspection and further ventilation improvements have been completed to help address the mould.
“A new extractor hood was installed in Kayleigh’s bathroom and the kitchen fan was also overhauled.
“We hoped these measures would improve the family’s situation, but we are contacting Kayleigh to see what else we can do to help.
“In addition, we are also working with the family to support the move to a larger, more suitable home.
“They are on the PA Housing transfer register but very few large family homes are becoming available in Kingston upon Thames.”
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What to do if you have mold in your home
- Landlords are responsible for removing mold and damp if it makes the property unsafe for renters.
- The landlord’s liability starts when they become aware of the problem, so it’s important that tenants notify the landlord as soon as possible.
- You may be entitled to compensation if your landlord refuses to carry out repairs – your landlord is responsible for most of the repairs that need to be carried out in your home.
- If you believe that your landlord is not taking reasonable steps to keep the property mold free, or if you believe that their heating and ventilation requirements are excessive, you should try to talk to them about it.
- You can ask them to supply a dehumidifier to deal with this problem.
What rights do you have?
- Tenants can sue landlords for damp and mold – tenants in England and Wales can take their landlords to court for issues including cold and damp houses.
- If your landlord doesn’t take action, you can report it to the local authority or take them to court.
- If you are a social employer or your landlord is part of a voluntary scheme, you can complain to the Housing Ombudsman.
- You may be entitled to compensation if they fail to carry out the repairs within a reasonable time.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/21934342/me-four-kids-crammed-mould-bathroom/
