Mould-infested flat raises health concerns for Swindon woman

Tia-Maria Thornbury first noticed signs of damp around the property within days of being moved into the council-managed block of flats on Buckhurst Crescent two years ago.

But despite raising concerns with the council and getting the apartment cleaned, the green-black grime keeps returning all over her kitchen, bedroom and living room's walls and ceilings.

After going away with her partner for Christmas, she returned home to find the mould now covered her living room carpet and, after inspecting the rest of the flat, noticed black marks on the underside of her mattress.

Damp and mould marks the underside of the mattress (Image: Newsquest)

She worries that the damp is making her asthma worse and that the stress of living in a property she feels is unsafe may be taking its toll on a pre-existing heart condition.

Tia told the Adver: "I feel helpless and furious, this is wrong, it's a nightmare.

"The air inside the flat is awful so I have to use my inhaler every half hour. My partner called an ambulance one day because I couldn't breathe.

"The mould has ruined my furniture and I can't use the living room at all but my guinea pigs are in there, which worries me.

Mould covers the carpet near the guinea pig cage (Image: Newsquest)

"The council have only been out once or twice to clean since I moved in, they always say the mould won't come back and then it does. Last I heard, they can't sort the carpets out until January or February.

"The flat looked okay on the day I moved in but on day two or three, I started seeing damp come through the walls. I'm paying nearly £700 a month to live in these conditions, it's not right.

"Everyone who comes round is shocked at the state of the place, it's not livable, I need to get out of here."

Mould on the carpet (Image: From public)

When approached for comment, a Swindon Borough Council spokesman said it would not be responding as it is working with the tenant to resolve the problem.

The Adver then visited the property and noticed staff from the local authority drop off a dehumidifier for the living room.

Tia added that she had just been told by the housing team that her mattress was going to be replaced and the walls were going to be cleaned.

Damp appears on the living room ceiling and walls (Image: Newsquest)

Mould on the bedroom walls and ceiling (Image: Newsquest)