'Mouldy flats are damaging our health'

Black mould and damp have been blighting the lives of tenants on an ageing Greater Manchester estate for years despite regular complaints, they have claimed.

People living at the flats in Tameside said the poor condition of their homes had contributed to or caused health problems like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The spoke out ahead of the introduction of Awaab's Law - new legislation requiring social housing landlords to investigate and fix black mould and damp within strict timelines.

Landlords Jigsaw Homes Group said it was "sorry to hear" some residents on Dukinfield's Central Estate were still having problems and it was working to fix them.

The company also told the BBC it welcomed the announcement on Awaab's Law and was "confident" it could show it was fulfilling its obligations by the October deadline.

The law is being introduced following the death of three-year-old Awaab Ishak from mould exposure in his Rochdale home in 2020.

The blocks of flats, built about 50 years ago, have been refurbished but problems remain with leaks, damp and mould according to tenants.

Lorraine Simpson, 61, told BBC Radio Manchester she had been diagnosed with COPD and asthma due to "thick black mould" in her flat.

She said tests at Tameside General Hospital discovered mould spores in her lungs.

"They said 'have you got mould in your flat?'" she explained.

"Because this is where it's come from, because I was coughing, coughing, coughing."

Ms Simpson said the original problem has been fixed but damp on an outside wall is seeping through to her kitchen.

Kelsey Schofield, 18, said a mould infestation in her bedroom a couple of years ago had aggravated her asthma.

"I had to sleep in my sister's bedroom a few times because it would get on my chest," she said.

Ms Schofield said the provider was initially slow to act.

She said: "They were very dismissive of it at first; 'there's nothing we can really do about it, just bleach it and try and get rid of it yourself'."

While that problem has been solved, Ms Schofield said mould is still growing around the window in her sister's bedroom.

Father-of-three Rahim Rasoui said his flat had suffered with a major mould infestation after a drain leak above the bathroom.

"It's everywhere, every corner of the room," he said.

Jigsaw said it had created a Healthy Homes team to help manage mould and damp problems that are difficult to solve.

A spokesperson said: "We are working with those whose details have been shared with us to address those issues.

"We ask any of our residents who may be concerned about damp or mould to contact us."

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