Part 6: Damp & Mould – “It’s not lifestyle”

Three years on and the issue of damp and mould in Mark Deacon’s Council owned flat, in Etchinghill, has still not been resolved. He has repeatedly complained to the council about the damp and mould, yet the problem still persists.

Fifteen months ago, we wrote about the property Mark lives in; which suffers from substantial damp and mould issues.  

Since the  issue began for the tenant – Mark Deacon – the Council have purchased the Ship Street site in Folkestone for £440,000, paid for the development of 37 homes, at a cost of £6.45m, through their wholly owned company Oportunitas Ltd, at the former Royal Victoria Hospital site, plus given millions to their wholly owned company, Otterpool Park LLP. Yet they have been unable to resolve the issue of damp and mould at Mr Deacon’s home. 

One has to wonder if tenants health, safety and wellbeing are of paramount importance to the Council.

There is no doubt that some repairs have been made, but the works undertaken by Mears, the Council’s contractor, have not changed anything as there is a “serious underlying issue”.

Mark informed BBC News, South East:

“Every morning I wake up and open all the windows, air the place, wipe the condensation. It’s dripping down – it’s soaking wet.”

“I’d just like to have a home me and my son don’t dread having to go back to.”

The council via a spokesperson has said:

“Council surveyors have visited the property on numerous occasions and the council have carried out extensive works, including corrective measures to rectify the mould issues, and dehumidifiers have been supplied to Mr Deacon.

“Further works are booked for this week.” 

It is important to remember back in Sept 2019, the Regulator of Social Housing found: 

a) Folkestone & Hythe DC has breached the Home standard; and
b) As a consequence of this breach, there was the potential for serious detriment to Folkestone & Hythe DC tenants.

The council have previously informed Mark it was his “lifestyle” which was causing the issues. They informed him to open the windows, hang his clothes outdoors to dry etc. Mark was doing all these things, and his lifestyle was not excessive.

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health has said:

The “…most common mistake is assuming that condensation will be resolved by adjusting heating, ventilation, or ‘atmospheric moisture input’ – this serves to focus blame on the tenant or their ‘lifestyle’.”

Regardless of what Mark has done to improve the situation, the Mould & Damp has persistently returned since he has occupied the property in Etchinghill.

We honestly believe the Council need to get their priorities right. Spending money on projects such as Biggins Wood, Ship Street, Oportunitas Ltd and Otterpool Park LLP, when there is a clear need to prevent damp and mould in Council owned homes and should be their priority, as opposed to their vanity projects; which have yet to show any profit for the Council and the local Council Tax payer.

If you have an issue with damp and mould in your home, you may be eligible for legal aid to help you overcome these issues.

Locally there is TNA Solicitors in Folkestone who offer this service. Or you can book and appointment with the Shepway Citizens Advice Bureau to discover your rights.

The Shepway Vox Team

Journalism for the People NOT the Powerful