Couple's housing hell after finding mould on toothbrush and clothes

11 February 2023 , 12:42

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Finding the mouldy toothbrush was the final straw, Karen says (Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

A couple say they are living in 'misery' after finding mould on their toothbrush and clothes in their home.

They have revealed that they have "always had problems with mould as long as we have lived here", as they are growing "sick and tired" of their living situation.

Karen Pringle has now urged Gateshead Council to help her and fix the problem in her sheltered accommodation property in Ryton fast, as many of her possessions have been lost as they have gotten too mouldy.

Karen and husband Tony say they have been faced with issues since moving into the bungalow six years ago.

Karen Pringle says her home is covered in mould (Newcastle Chronicle)

She says she is 'sick and tired of the situation now' (Newcastle Chronicle)

However, discovering a mouldy toothbrush in the bathroom was the final straw in a long line of issues.

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She has revealed that alongside this, she previously found mould growing on a £500 leather biker jacket she bought for Tony as a Christmas present.

Unfortunately, the pair were forced to throw it away because it became too mouldy to clean - just six weeks after purchasing it.

Karen says she also has to step straight into slippers after a shower to avoid stepping on mould on the bathroom floor.

Karen Pringle says she has run out of patience with her mouldy home (Newcastle Chronicle)

Most shockingly, the couple have been forced to treat and paint their bathroom 19 times in six years to try to eliminate the mould.

Karen, who is registered disabled and uses a wheelchair or mobility scooter when she leaves the bungalow, told Chronicle Live: "We have always had problems with mould as long as we have lived here.

"About three years ago, a Gateshead Council contractor said the damp was caused by two outside walls that needed repointing, and since then, despite calling regularly, we have heard nothing."

The mould covered jacket that Karen bought as a gift to her husband (Newcastle Chronicle)

She continued to say that she also has Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, which is the name for a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties.

Karen said: "As well as my mobility problems, I also have COPD, and the damp atmosphere is masking this so much worse. We pay full rent and council tax for this bungalow, the heating is on pretty much all of the time and the windows are opened regularly. I am pretty sure we could not do any more than we are doing. It is miserable living here. Everything is spoilt. I thought it was bad enough when I found mould in my underwear drawer, but when my toothbrush was covered as well, I just thought enough is enough.

"We are sick and tired of the situation now. It is not doing our health any good at all and we just want the work to be done and the damp to go away. I think we have been more than patient. We have lost a lot of possessions as they have just got too mouldy to revive. My husband's jacket was the third one we have had to throw away and they cost £500 each."

The pair have been faced with mould and damp issues since moving into the bungalow (Newcastle Chronicle)

A Gateshead Council spokesperson said. "We are aware of the outstanding repair at the property and sincerely apologise for any stress and inconvenience that may have been caused to Mr and Mrs Pringle during the delays," he said.

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"We will look to prioritise these works and will be contacting Mr and Mrs Pringle to provide a full update and schedule the necessary repairs. We will also discuss the damage to their possessions with a view to compensating them for their losses."

Catherine Furze