Southern Housing Tenants Report Severe Damp and Mould Conditions

Occupants of a prominent UK housing association have characterized their residences as “hell”. Three mothers, all residing in Sussex, have alleged that Southern Housing (SH) has not performed sufficient and prompt repairs. They contend that this situation has resulted in dampness and mould, leading to “life-changing” physical and mental health issues for themselves and their children. SH stated that it regarded damp and mould reports “extremely seriously” and collaborated with residents in instances where such problems existed. The housing association informed the BBC that it had allocated £1.4m to establish a “dedicated, specialist” team in April 2024 specifically to address damp and mould concerns. These women disclosed their experiences subsequent to a BBC investigation which revealed that vulnerable SH tenants in South East England were residing in hazardous, unsanitary environments, with some lacking fundamental amenities like a shower or a secure front door. SH reported managing 80,000 homes across Sussex, Surrey, Kent, London, the Isle of Wight, and the Midlands. Victoria Beeching relocated to a SH flat in Rye with her spouse, Tom, and their two young offspring. She indicated that humid conditions contributed to her infant son’s hospitalization last year with severe croup, following the growth of black mould in his cot. Ms. Beeching further stated that her “struggles” with SH had resulted in a debilitating anxiety condition. She conveyed to the BBC, “I am so low all the time. This situation is consuming my life. I’ve missed out on the first few years of my son’s life because I’ve had to spend so much time fighting [SH].” The couple initially observed mould in March 2022 near the bedroom windows. It subsequently expanded to the walls, bathroom, toilet, and kitchen, despite their diligent cleaning attempts. SH inspected the residence on multiple occasions after Ms. Beeching reported the issue, yet she stated that the mould continued throughout 2023. She asserted that the housing association had not addressed the underlying cause, instead only applying washes and painting over the problem. Ms. Beeching mentioned requesting a relocation from SH multiple times, as the family of four had outgrown the two-bedroom flat, but no alternative property had been provided. She described the situation as “severe maladministration,” noting that she had filed a complaint with the housing ombudsman and engaged a disrepair solicitor in an effort to compel SH to resolve the issue. SH informed the BBC that structural dampness was not detected during the initial inspection of the property after Ms. Beeching’s complaint. They further stated that in response to “ongoing concerns,” mould treatments were performed, kitchen and bathroom fans were serviced, and the roof and loft areas were examined. SH maintained, “At present, there is no visible damp or mould in the property.” In May 2024, SH granted Ms. Beeching £3,400 in compensation. Following the discovery of asbestos in their residence, SH proposed nearby temporary housing to Ms. Beeching while repairs were conducted. Nevertheless, she stated that the family was unable to relocate temporarily due to her mental and physical health condition and the potential disruption. She remarked, “What we really need is a suitable house. This one is hell. How can they let us live like this?” In a formal statement, SH indicated its efforts to locate alternative accommodation for the family, but acknowledged that options were constrained by the “housing crisis.” SH also affirmed its commitment to continue collaborating with Ms. Beeching to guarantee her home was “safe and suitable” for the family. Anna Dewey and her spouse, David, occupied a SH house in July 2023 with their four children. She reported that the property in Hastings had been certified as “safe and liveable” by an SH surveyor. However, mould problems soon emerged in the bathroom, subsequently spreading to the bedrooms and kitchen, according to Ms. Dewey. She stated that this situation compelled her to discard all their food and keep groceries in carrier bags within the living room. The BBC has reviewed correspondence from NHS personnel advocating for repairs “as a matter of urgency” or for the family’s rehousing, given that one of the children had a compromised immune system due to a pre-existing health condition. Ms. Dewey asserts that SH disregarded this letter. She indicated that despite SH undertaking repairs, the dampness persisted, causing the family’s clothes and beds to become wet. Furthermore, it had caused damage to the children’s toys. She expressed, “I just want to be able to live in a home happily and safely with my family by Christmas.” SH issued an apology for the failure to resolve the problem with prior mould treatments. It further stated its understanding of Ms. Dewey’s frustration and confirmed that additional treatments would be conducted within the subsequent two to three weeks. Jessica Pourasghar and her spouse acquired a two-bedroom flat in Ore, Hastings, as leaseholders in 2021. She reported that the family discovered the property had a significant rising damp problem when the wallpaper detached within weeks of their occupancy. As freeholders, SH bears responsibility for the external upkeep of the structure. This issue has reportedly necessitated the couple’s six-year-old autistic son relocating from his bedroom, while Ms. Pourasghar sleeps on the sofa. Her husband had contracted pneumonia twice since their move, and the entire family had experienced respiratory illnesses, she stated. In a statement, SH acknowledged its awareness that damp and mould issues were affecting the family’s health and wellbeing. It indicated that after the problem was reported in August 2022, they addressed faulty pointing on her external walls. The subsequent year, additional repairs were performed following further reports. SH added, “Since February 2024, we’ve been working to better understand the cause of the mould.” Ms. Pourasghar stated that the company had pledged to install a new damp proof course and enhance the exterior pointing, but these actions had not been completed. She commented, “You have to constantly call, constantly email. When you get a response it tends to be ‘I’m really sorry we’ll get back to you in a few days’, and in a few days you get nothing.” She expressed fear regarding the potential worsening of the mould during winter. She asserted, “We’ve asked (SH) constantly over and over again… this needs to be fixed, but we’ve been ignored completely.” SH declared its commitment to enhancing communication with Ms. Pourasghar and its other residents. The housing association stated it would persist in close collaboration with Ms. Pourasghar to resolve her concerns and the fundamental problems contributing to the mould.