A DAD-of-five has told how he is a “bag of nerves” in his damp-ridden home – and is terrified its thick black mould will start to grow inside his children.
Lee Gaskell, 48, says “every single room” in his three-bed council house in Wigan, Greater Manchester, has some form of fungus or disrepair.
He claims the thick, black and “furry” mould started to appear 12 months ago.
But despite repeatedly telling Wigan Council he is worried for his family’s safety, Lee says “nothing is being done”.
The worried dad, who lives with his wife and five kids – aged four, nine, 12, 16 and 17 – is now in a constant state of paranoia when in the house.
And he is terrified for the effect it will have on his wife and kids’ health.
Read More on The Sun
“I’m a bag of nerves,” he told The Sun Online.
“It’s disgusting, I’m just horrified. I can’t express enough how much I worry about my kids’ health and safety.
“My daughter’s four and we’ve been living like this now for months.
“I’m constantly looking up the effects of toxic mould on the body and the effect it can have on your wellbeing and your kids – I just can’t stop worrying.”
Lee says he has had inspectors from the council come to view the property, but he has been told there is nothing to worry about.
He is now desperate for a resolution and has begged authorities to do more.
He added: “I don’t sleep at night. I’m not eating. My wife is worried about me.
“There’s so many illnesses related [to mould]. The mould on my tap alone has horrified me to the point where I spent an hour looking through the internet for information.
“Are we drinking contaminated poisonous water?
“I have to watch my daughter 24 hours a day because of the mould downstairs.”
Lee says he is too scared to touch the mould as he fears it will “disperse particles into the air” for his children to breathe in.
And he was left terrified after reading “it can grow inside your body”.
“When you read online that mould grows on a human body when it’s ingested and breathed, I’m thinking of my kids – what is it doing to them?” he said.
I’m a bag of nerves. It’s disgusting, I’m just horrified.
Lee Gaskell
“My mental health has suffered because of it.
“I can’t have fresh food in my cupboards because I’m that paranoid. There’s mould everywhere.”
Lee claims “every single time” he has contacted the council regarding his health concerns he has been “reassured it’s not a problem”.
But he reached the end of his tether when his wife bathed their daughter last month and there was black mould in the water.
Their clothes have also been “ruined” and the utility room “stinks”.
“It’s in our bedroom, it’s in my daughter’s bedroom, it’s in my lad’s bedroom, it’s in the kitchen, it’s in the living room, it’s in the entire property. Every single room,” he added.
“It’s furry. It’s black mould. There’s white fluffy mould all over my tap downstairs.”
Read More on The Sun
A spokesperson for Wigan Council said: “We are currently liaising with the tenant to address the repair work issues at this property but due to an ongoing legal process we are unable to say more at this stage.
“We encourage tenants to report repair work which may be needed online via their housing account and we are committed to working with all of our tenants to ensure any repairs are carried out as soon as possible.
“If any of our tenants have an emergency repair or an urgent repair issue out of hours please they should call 01942 489005.”
