'My kids are going deaf and I can't sleep in bed because our flat is so mouldy'
A mum says her three kids are struggling to breathe and one of them is "going deaf" because their flat is covered in mould.
Aisha Hussain, 31, has been living in her London flat for over a year but claims her landlord did not make any improvements to the property's conditions.
According to Aisha, all her children are suffering from health conditions due to the thick mould.
Her 16-year-old son Justin, who is asthmatic, has been prescribed steroids and uses an asthma mask to help him breathe.
The mum claims that her middle son Shay, 13, is going deaf in both ears because his nose is severely blocked - resulting in him having to go to the hospital to get his nose unblocked.
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Her youngest son Shahroz, two, suffers from sinus issues and has to sleep in his mum's bed as his one is covered in mould, she says.
The flat has severe mould issues (Aisha Hussain/ SWNS)
Aisha said she 'doesn't know what else to do' (Aisha Hussain/ SWNS)The mould appeared on the walls of Aisha's flat in Hounslow, London, in November 2021 in their living room and her children's bedroom walls.
The mum-of-three has tried to use mould remover and has contacted her landlord - who manages the property - but says she is "slowly giving up".
On November 18, 2022, Aisha herself was admitted to Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow, northwest London, with breathing problems and heart palpitations.
She remained at the hospital overnight for observations, was given tablets to reduce stress and was kept on a drip to keep her dehydrated.
Aisha will be leaving the property in April as the council has advised her not to renew her tenancy but the family of three currently have nowhere to go, she says.
Aisha Hussain's son Justin suffers from asthma (Aisha Hussain/ SWNS)
Aisha's children Shay and Shahroz (Aisha Hussain/ SWNS)Aisha said: "It is so stressful. My health itself is very poor due to the amount of stress I am going through.
"I got my children a few Christmas presents and some of them are damaged with mould already. This month it has been a year since I have been fighting.
"My eldest son has got worse, the doctors have put him on a stronger pump, and the damp has caused a lot of damage.
"My bed is covered in mould so I have to sleep on the sofa. The council found me a property but the landlord of that property said no.
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Aisha fears her family will be left homeless (Aisha Hussain/ SWNS)
The mould has damaged her kids' toys and clothes (Aisha Hussain/ SWNS)"I don't know the reason why we couldn't go ahead with the property, I got a call in December and was told there was a property for me.
"I had a meeting and got told I could sign the agreement but the next day I was told it wasn't progressing any further.
"My current lease finishes in April and the council doesn't want me to renew the tenancy.
"I have a disrepair claim in but still nothing seems to be getting done. I am starting all over again looking for a new property - it is stressful."
She says she "doesn't know what else to do" and has set up a GoFundMe page to help with the costs of clothes and items she had to throw away and replace.
Aisha said: "Every property I have been in since the age of 16 has had a problem - I haven't had a home to call home.
"I don't have anywhere else to go and I can't go to a B&B as they will stick me in one bedroom with me and my three children.
"I am paying around £2,000 a month for a flat that is unliveable. In October, my case officer said I would get moved, I am still here.
"It is not just the winter. In the summer you can't breathe in this flat as there are three windows in total."
Mould can be found in her living room and children's bedroom (Aisha Hussain/ SWNS)Aisha said she 'doesn't know what else to do' (Aisha Hussain/ SWNS)A Brent Council spokesperson said: "Our priority is to find Ms Hussain and her family a safe and secure home. Our housing team has been in regular contact with Ms Hussain, offering her the option of temporary accommodation until a new home is found.
"The welfare of the family is our main concern. We are continuing enforcement action regarding the landlord while working with Ms Hussain to find a property that meets her family’s needs.
"We would want to assure her that we are there to support her and her family from becoming homeless."
To donate to Aisha's fundraising page, you can click here.
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