Mum fears black mould spreading through home will kill three-year-old daughter
A mum fears her three-year-old with breathing difficulties "might die" due to black mould in her home.
Terri Harrigan, 31, found the mould shortly after moving into the East London property in December 2019, when she peeled back her wallpaper.
She said it was growing on walls in her living room, kitchen, both bedrooms, toilet, storage cupboard, windows and ceilings - even spreading to her clothes and mattresses.
Despite her best efforts to wash away the mould around two to three times a week, it appears to keep growing back.
Terri's daughter, Ariella, has been "sick most of her life" and her mum believes it could be down to the mould in their home.
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Peyton (left) M'Kenna (right) and Ariella (front) (Terri Harrigan / SWNS)
Terri (pictured) has voiced her fears for her three-year-old daughter who has breathing difficulties (Terri Harrigan / SWNS)The tot now has to use a salbutamol inhaler every day to help with her breathing.
Terri, an NHS receptionist from Hackney, said: "Ariella gets sick at least every two to three weeks now.
"She really struggles with her breathing - and doctors have even written a letter to the council to say the mould is causing her health issues.
"All I want is for her to be healthy and happy - my main concern as a new mum shouldn't be that my three-year-old is going to die suddenly."
The mould seems to keep growing back (Terri Harrigan / SWNS)
It has even spread to clothes and mattresses (Terri Harrigan / SWNS)Terri was "left without doubt" that the mould was causing her daughter's health problems - after discovering the wall behind her bed and even the mattress "caked in mould".
She said: "Ariella has to sleep next to the wall, otherwise she'll fall out of bed.
"I try to do what I can by washing the wall behind her bed three to four times a week. I suffer from asthma and migraines myself, so the mould often makes me ill as well.
The mould in Terri's home (Terri Harrigan / SWNS)
She claims a member of Hackney Council 'only painted over' the mould (Terri Harrigan / SWNS)"The council really needs to do something about it. Since September 2020, they've come out to me three times - and each time, all they've done is paint over it."
Ariella's health concerns took a turn for the worst in September 2022 - and an ambulance was called.
Terri said: "Her breathing became really rapid - it just wasn't slowing down. I called 111 and they sent an ambulance out to us straight away.
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"She was only two years old at the time, and I was worried we were about to lose her.
Ariella, M'Kenna and Peyton (Terri Harrigan / SWNS)"Doctors sent a letter to the Mayor of Hackney - but he just said he'd let us know when other social housing became available. Seven months later - and we're still waiting."
Terri said workers for Hackney Council "painted over" the mould after she put in a complaint - rather than cleaning it, as she'd requested.
A letter from her GP also asked if the mould issues could be addressed to "ensure safe living conditions".
Terri says her mental health has been "destroyed" by the mould in her house, as well as her physical health.
Terri was 'left without doubt' that the mould was causing her daughter's health problems (Terri Harrigan / SWNS)
Hackney Council apologised for the delay to repairs (Terri Harrigan / SWNS)The death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak after he was exposed to black mould has left Terri scared the same thing will happen to Ariella.
"I'm just constantly anxious about my children," she said.
"Don't get me wrong, they're all very happy - but I need them to be healthy as well. We don't have any money to move house - we don't even have enough to get a new bed.
"Ariella's mattress is covered in mould. I'm just terrified she's going to die."
Terri says her mental health has been 'destroyed' by the mould in her house (Terri Harrigan / SWNS)
Terri with M'Kenna, Peyton and Ariella (Terri Harrigan / SWNS)Hackney Council apologised for the delay to repairs, saying it is looking at "stronger measures" to stop the problem from returning.
A spokesperson said: "We wholeheartedly apologise for the delay to repairs that Ms Harrigan has experienced following our survey on November 2022.
"The Council carried out repair work relating to recurring damp in 2019, 2020, and again in January 2022.
"The most recent issue - in November 2022 - was surveyed, but this work was delayed as a result of problems with the supply chain and a breakdown of communication at our end.
"We have now made contact with Ms Harrigan to begin work to resolve all the issues at her earliest convenience. As part of this, we will look at stronger measures to prevent future recurrence.
"Hackney Council is one of the largest social landlords in the country, and we want to assure everyone living in one of our homes that tackling damp and mould is a priority for us.
"We launched a housing repairs action plan - backed by an extra £1m investment - last year.
"This includes inspecting all reports of damp and mould within five working days; reassessing all outstanding damp and mould complaints and ensuring they are prioritised based on the severity of the case, and the age and health of the people living in the home."
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