Mum of young baby “trapped” in mouldy property slams RBH for lack of action

Sarah Porter with her 14-week-old baby

A mum-of a young baby who says she’s “trapped” in a house covered in black mould has slammed Rochdale Boroughwide Housing for not acting to protect her children.

Sarah Porter says her 14-week-old baby and six-year-old old son have both suffered cold-like symptoms because fungus has grown in almost every room over a period of months.

The 28-year-old mum says the problem at the Smithy Bridge Road property has been ignored by RBH despite numerous calls and emails asking for help.

Paperwork sent to Ms Porter had previously promised that work would be completed in March 2016 – but three months later she says she is still waiting.

RBH has since promised that she will be the “highest priority” in a new cleaning scheme, but was unable to say when it will be as it is currently being tendered.

Ms Porter told Rochdale Online: “Because I’d chosen to do a house swap, RBH wouldn’t do any repairs for six months, so that was the first thing.

"About halfway through my pregnancy it became a much bigger issue and I started pushing them more, no one seemed to care at all, they certainly didn’t seem to have plans on actually helping me.”

She added: “I lost count of the amount of times I was fobbed off on the phone. Pillar to post. Nobody’s fault. It’s like they do it to buy time. I don’t have time. I have a small baby at risk and I’m running out of patience.

“Men come to look, then they go away and do nothing. That is not action being taken in my book.”

Ms Porter was initially told that the house needed repointing before the inside problems can be dealt with, but she says that even that has gone unattended to.

She added: “I have damp and mould throughout the building, my little boy has been ill, and now I have a young baby heading the same way. Things like this need to be addressed more quickly, especially when children are involved.”

A spokesperson for Rochdale Boroughwide Housing said: “Ms Porter's home is included in our upcoming brickwork pointing and cavity clearing programme which will address the issues raised.

“This work is currently out for tender to ensure that we provide the highest quality service, and Ms Porter's home will receive the highest priority as soon as the scheme is underway.”