I moved into the property in West Lulworth in March 2012.
The damp problem began almost immediately. For the first year I had no working heating, as the warm air heater, which was from the 1970s no longer worked. Eventually Aster fitted two storage heaters, one in the bedroom and one in the living room. However, there is a crack above and below the bedroom window on the outside wall, which I believe is allowing damp to penetrate. Aster have been promising to repair it for years. But nothing has so far been done.
When I reported the damp and mould problem to Aster, they told me that it was due to condensation and that I needed to ventilate the flat better. When I moved in, the windows were decades old, the double-glazed units were defective and it was impossible to see out of the windows because there was a fog within the sealed units and the inside of the windows streamed with water. I lived with that for a number of years before Aster eventually replaced the double glazed-units, but they didn’t replace the old windows, which were made before vents were invented, so the only way to ventilate the room is to open the windows. It’s a ground floor flat, so it’s very easy for anyone to just climb in through the windows, and as I live alone, I’m nervous about having the windows open, especially the bedroom window when I’m asleep. This doesn’t make it any easier to ventilate the flat. Â
In 2021 and 2022 both Aster and Savilles came to survey the property, and I was told that they will treat the mould and repair the damaged wall, but I have heard nothing further about this.
My toilet was leaking for some time, and Aster had been promising to update my old bathroom since I moved in, and last year they did finally come and do that. However, without warning me, or asking me for my agreement, they removed my over-bath shower, so now I only have a bath. I used the shower much more than the bath, so I’m finding this very inconvenient, not to mention more expensive to use. To make matters worse, I’ve recently been told that I need to have an operation in the near future, and that I will not be able to have a bath for 15 days after the procedure, as it could lead to infection, so I don’t know how I’m going to manage. My housing officer has suggested I could offer to pay to have the shower reinstalled, but I’m not in a position to do that.
The mould in the bedroom has been so bad, I’ve often had to sleep on the sofa in my living room, so I can get a break from the mould spores, which I believe affect my breathing.
In desperation last week I decided to take matters into my own hands and started washing the mould off the walls, but within an hour I came out in a severe allergy rash that eventually covered my entire body. I saw my GP who prescribed steroids, which I have been taking ever since. I’ve now had two GP appointments because of this, and a telephone consultation.
Over the weekend my sister came and helped me to deep clean my bedroom; we took most of the furniture to the council tip, as it was mouldy and rotting, and a neighbour in Lulworth has kindly given me some second-hand bedroom furniture to replace it. I’m still getting hives, but much less than before. I think I need to replace my mattress, but I can’t afford to do that at the moment; I’ve already replaced all my bedding in an effort to eradicate the mould spores, which is an expense I didn’t expect to have this month.
Several times I’ve had to have time off work for doctor’s appointments, and my employer is losing their patience with me.
I spoke to my local councillor yesterday, and suddenly today I’ve been told that someone is coming in January to do yet another survey of the damp and mould. Â
Chloe Hambleton
Join us in helping to bring reality and decency back by SUBSCRIBING to our Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ1Ll1ylCg8U19AhNl-NoTg and SUPPORTING US where you can: Award Winning Independent Citizen Media Needs Your Help. PLEASE SUPPORT US FOR JUST £2 A MONTH https://dorseteye.com/donate/
