Northampton council tenant asks for help over black mould

Ameila has tried cleaning it herself but says nothing she's used has worked

Mum-of-two Ameila Langdon, of Duston, is calling on Northampton Partnership Homes to help remove black mould stains in her home and seal up her cold windows.

The council tenant has been living in her property for six years and is a mum-of-two to five-year-old and eight-month-old girls.

She has approached the newspaper after previously calling on Northampton Partnership Homes to assess the black mould growing around her bedroom windowsill and draughts coming from her closed windows.

She said: "It's difficult to keep the kids warm and it's cold because the windows and doors are not sealed properly in all of the rooms in the house.

"My five-year-old is constantly poorly, she is sleeping in a cold, damp room and my eight-month-old wakes up through the night blue from cold.

"I can't wrap them up enough to keep them warm."

Amelia wants to move home but her eldest daughter goes to school nearby so this would be a last resort.

"[The mould around my bedroom window] has been there, I think, about a year-and-a-half to two years.

"I'm trying to get it off but it just keeps growing back. I have reported that several times."

She added: "I took NPH round every room and showed them all the windows and the door where the drafts come in and I said that 'when my curtains are closed and my windows are shut I can see my curtains blowing from the wind'."

Amelia has been told to clean the mould herself and she has tried to do so with boiling water, specialist mould remover and soap but to no avail.

"I have pretty much used everything and nothing seems to be lifting it," she added it. "I have mental health issues, I suffer from anxiety and depression and so it's kind of getting me down.

"I just feel stuck really and I feel like I have no escape from anything."

She added: "I want the best for my kids and I feel like I'm not giving that because I'm not being listened to."

The Northampton Partnership Homes team have confirmed they will visit Amelia today (Monday) to 'assess the situation'.

Gary Duckmanton, assistant director of property maintenance and compliance, said: "We visited Ms Langdon to inspect reported problems with the windows and damp in the property in May 2019. During our visit, we repaired the double-glazed UPVC windows to prevent draughts.

"We saw that the property had minor condensation-related issues, and some damp and mould was evident around the windows.

"We did not identify any structural defects that could have been contributing to the damp and mould.

"We shared advice at the time on how to reduce condensation and remove the mould, including ventilating and heating her home.

"Mould and damp tends to occur after condensation when moisture-laden air comes into contact with cold surfaces.

"We are aware the mould and draughts are issues of concern for Ms Langdon. We received further reports of problems with the windows, damp and plastering on the February 18, 2020.

"My team have been in contact with the tenant, and will be visiting to assess the situation on Monday, February 24."