Dannielle Banfield, 32, moved into her council flat in September 2015 with her two young children, only to discover immediate issues.
Concerned about the mould infestation, she promptly contacted St Albans City and District Council, who initially sent someone to carry out a mould wash.
However, despite four attempts to address the problem over the course of eight years, the situation has only worsened, leaving Dannielle’s flat in a state of disrepair, dampness, and mould.
The consequences of the living conditions have been devastating for her two children, nine-year-old Jessica Shaw and three-year-old Scarlett Shaw, who now suffer from severe chronic asthma and declining health.
Dannielle, residing in Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, expressed her frustration, saying: “We have tried relentlessly to get them to carry out the necessary works. We want them to address the state of disrepair and causes of mould in the dwelling and the unfit state of the property for human habitation. But we’re not being taken seriously. They refuse to acknowledge the mould issue is coming from within the walls.”
When Dannielle had her second child, St Albans City & District Council offered her a property in the village. However, conditions in the council flat provided have only deteriorated further. The accumulation of mould in the bathroom, kitchen, walls, and ceilings has rendered the living space uninhabitable.
Last year, Dannielle initiated legal proceedings against St Albans City & District Council, but she feels that little progress has been made. To compound matters, Dannielle was involved in a life-altering car accident on April 15th last year, which left her with lasting disabilities.
Dannielle shared her frustration, saying: “Approximately a year ago, I began legal action against the council. This was after both my children were diagnosed with chronic asthma and deteriorating health by the day.
“My youngest is severely autistic as well which makes things even harder. She needs around the clock care. I really felt litigation was the only step to make them listen, but sadly a year later, we are still left here living in these conditions.
“There are no works booked in, we’ve had no contact from the council and they’ve shown no care for the wellbeing of their residents. Since being involved in a head on collision which has left me with disabilities, I have fought so hard to try and improve our quality of life.
“I really don’t believe anybody deserves to survive something like that and have to live this way. I cannot manage this property, they will not rehome me and my kids and I cannot continue to fight a losing battle alone.”
Chris Traill, the council’s strategic director for community and place, responded to the situation, saying: “We cannot comment on the specifics of an ongoing case. However, we and our repairs contractor Morgan Sindall are committed to working with our tenants to maintain council properties to high standards and carry our repair work swiftly.
“Tackling mould and damp is a priority and we have a policy in place to ensure we treat tenants fairly and comply with best practice. We also provide tenants with advice, including an information leaflet, on how to avoid condensation and reduce the risk of mould. This includes keeping rooms ventilated and wiping down affected areas with a fungicidal wash.”
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