A mother of three says her three young children are suffering from breathing problems due to black mold in her home, News Times reported.
Marzena Piatkowska has lived in Merlin Road, Scunthorpe for three years and noticed patches of black mold on her walls in October last year.
She said her three children, aged nine, six and six months, are suffering from breathing problems, persistent coughs and skin problems, which she believes are caused by the mold.
They have been prescribed steroid inhalers by their GP and Mrs Piatkowska says she also suffers from persistent tightness in her chest.
Marzena Piatkowska says her three children are now suffering from health problems she believes are caused by the mold.
They have been prescribed steroid inhalers by their GP and Mrs Piatkowska says she also suffers from persistent tightness in her chest.
Marzena Piatkowska says her three children are now suffering from health problems she believes are caused by the mold.
The mother of three noticed patches of black mold on her walls in October last year.
She said: ‘It’s affecting my mental health because my kids are telling me they don’t want to be there.
‘My six-year-old daughter is asking if we can go outside because it’s so damp. They don’t want to be there.
‘I’m so upset, I’m so emotional and I can’t do anything to help them. I got chest pains and a tightness in my chest,’ he told Scunthorpe Live.
Speaking about the start of the problem, Mrs Piatkowska said: ‘Two years ago we started having problems with a leak in the roof which I reported to the landlord.
‘In October last year we started seeing mold everywhere and so we reported, and [the landlady] Sent a man to look at the problem, but he was only a painter.
‘He only requested that he paint over the mould, but he said no and left the property.
‘Her children have been given steroid inhalers by their GP and Mrs Piatkowska says she also suffers from persistent tightness in her chest.
Ms Piatkowska’s landlord claimed the problem was caused by a lack of ventilation and an inspection she ordered came to the same conclusion.
‘I told him again to get someone to come and fix the ceiling because I believe the mold in the bedroom is due to the ceiling problem, and he was waiting a long time for it to be fixed.
‘Eventually he found someone to repair it, but we still got a lot of mold up and down.
’His landlord claimed the problem was caused by a lack of ventilation, and an inspection he ordered came to the same conclusion.
Ms Piatkowska says that cleaning up mold and using a dehumidifier makes no difference, and the family is always cold because the walls are wet.
He said: ‘I’ve tried cleaning the mold and using a dehumidifier.
‘We feel cold all the time because all the walls are wet, and we heat but the room is still cold, it doesn’t matter how long we heat, it’s always cold.
‘We’ve tried drying the walls but my kids are getting worse.’
Ms Piatkowska said that on January 9, her landlord went to her home with a man who carried out a damp survey on the property – but a subsequent report on the situation said the mold problem was his fault.
Another mother said her council was ‘waiting for us to die’ because her flat was covered in mold that even seeped into her daughter’s shoes.
She is now trying to find somewhere else to live because she said her children are getting ‘worse’..Ms
She said: ‘The landlord came on Monday with a man to inspect the wall but he didn’t see the problem because he just sat on my sofa and didn’t check the house. He didn’t even see the problem.
‘His report said it was my fault. How could it be my fault?
‘I tried to talk to the landlord in a friendly way, I just need help, but he’s not interested. If kids have mold problems, just go outside, she says.
‘But I have two dogs and I can’t find another private landlord, so I’m waiting for my application to open a council house.
Another mother has said that her council is ‘waiting for us to die’ as her flat is covered in mould that has even made its way into her daughter’s shoes.Â
‘Marzena’s landlord then blamed the mold on the lack of ventilation throughout the property.
He said: ‘The tenant was informed at the start of his tenancy that he needed to ventilate the room to avoid damp.’
Damp survey says: ‘Damp is damp. With advanced building features in houses, such as wall insulation, double glazing and draft proofing, ‘natural ventilation’ is prohibited.
‘Stale air is trapped which streams into windows and walls, ultimately leading to odours, dampness and mold growth. Humidity levels in the property were high, ranging from 75% to 77% respectively.
‘Humidity levels can be higher at night and in the morning when all the windows are closed. We create about 25 pints of moisture per week through these normal lifestyle practices.
‘Without good tenant care and ventilation the property will become damp.’
Another mother is forced to sleep on her living room sofa with her young children because their bedrooms are covered in mold and their carpets are soaked with water.
Two-year-old Awab Ishaq died in December 2020 due to mold in his flat.
