Mum says mouldy flat has forced daughter to be off sick from school for 50 days
An asthmatic mum has been raking up her electricity bill in a bid to keep her kids warm because there is "no insulation" in their mouldy flat which has caused them multiple trips to the doctors.
Harmony Dugmore, 22, from Lichfield, Staffordshire, says she has been spending over £15 a day to try and prevent her children from developing further chest infections. The mum of two has been left in despair since trying to tackle the damp property, which is so "freezing" that her children breath out clouds of condensation.
Last week, Harmony was called into the headteacher's office due to her five year old's frequent absences from school. Her daughter has missed around 50 days of school this year because of illness. Since moving into the flat, owned by Midland Heart Housing Association, her children are "constantly cold" and suffer from recurring chest infections. Both her daughter and one year old son sleep in her bed to stay warm.
Harmony said there is constantly 'puddles' of condensation in her flat
Their belongings have been ruined by the conditions"I've complained loads, and literally been on the phone crying to them (Midland Heart), telling them how it's making me feel like a bad mum," she explained. A medic has even written to the housing association, demanding an "urgent investigation and resolution", reports Birmingham Live. The paramedic practitioner wrote a letter expressing concern, which read: "I am writing to express my concern regarding a mother and her two children who are living in mouldy and damp conditions.
"I am worried that this is having an impact on their health which is resulting in multiple attendances to the surgery with respiratory issues which is also having an impact on them being well enough to attend school. This needs urgent investigation and resolution, I would be grateful if you could support the mother's request in rehoming them." The family has been facing problems since they moved into the property from supported accommodation two years ago.
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When asked how many days her daughter has missed school, she said: "Loads. She's had over 50 days off. It was to the point last week her headteacher pulled me in the office to talk about it. She basically told me even if she's ill, send her in to school so she's not sitting in the mouldy conditions here." Since moving to the house, the mum has been battling with mould, "puddles of condensation" on the windowsills. "It gets really cold in here," she explained.
The mum said the damp conditions has left her family sick"My daughter says she's constantly cold, I have my kids in my bed so I know that they're warm. I paid just over £200 for electric, with the radiators on, I was spending £15 a day - just for it to go freezing again. With these radiators, they'll come on at 6am and then go off at 11pm - so that whole day I've spent getting the house warm, and as soon as they go off, it'll go freezing again. They've said there's all moisture in the walls as well that's contributing to the mould. It's sending the kids' things mouldy. They've had constant chest infections and stuffy noses. Within a space of three weeks, my son had two lots of anti-biotics and nasal drops."
Harmony said the housing association vowed to send roof contractors as there is "no insulation", but she hasn't heard back since. "They keep fobbing me off and not helping. I'd like them to help me move." The mum, who lived in Erdington's YMCA before, added: "I wish I stayed there. Even though it was supported accommodation, it was warmer, it was nothing compared to this. With me being a severe asthmatic it's affecting my asthma I was in hospital yesterday until early this morning (Dec 11). I had to be put on a nebuliser, have steroids, chest x-rays, blood tests. And have been sent home with steroids to take for five days, six tablets every morning."
A statement from Kevin Holmes, Assets and Delivery Regional Manager for Midland Heart, said: "We are sorry Ms Dugmore is experiencing this issue and we are doing all we can to make her family comfortable in their home again. We take issues of this nature extremely seriously and as soon as it was brought to our attention, we instructed a specialist to attend the property and assess what was happening. We have treated the affected areas and will be completing final works at the property this Wednesday.
"We understand this situation must have been very upsetting and hope that Ms Dugmore's children are feeling better. The comfort and safety of our tenants is our highest priority, and we are confident that the measures we have put in place will provide a permanent solution to this problem."
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]
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