Canterbury mother fights housing association over mold

A mother fighting a housing association over an unrepaired leak in her home said mold is affecting her son’s health.

Beth Harman, from Canterbury, Kent, says she has been in communication with the owner of Town and Country Housing about the issue for more than six months.

“I had to put pots, pans, everything I could find to keep it from going to the floor. They haven’t done anything yet,” she said.

Town and Country Housing said the contractors had tried “various methods” to contact Ms Harman.

Ms Harman, 23, said it took several months to initially stop the leak, but the problem has not been fully fixed.

“They have come three or four times since all this happened. And it’s always ‘someone else has to come in’ and ‘I can’t touch that,’” she said.

“Every time they said they were going out, I made sure I was in. But they say I’m never inside when I am.”

She said her two-year-old son’s health had deteriorated from living in a moldy apartment.

A Town and Country Housing spokesperson apologized and assured Ms Harman that the contractors would return on Thursday to complete the job.

“We accept that Ms. Harman feels the process has taken too long,” they said.

“Town and Country Housing and its contractors have tried various methods of contacting Ms. Harman to arrange access to the property.”

The landlord also offered Ms Harman £100 in compensation.