Mother Alleges Son Ingested Mold in Damp Social Housing

A “terrified” mother reported that one of her young sons had ingested “green fluffy mould” that had proliferated in their damp flat, including inside his toybox. Emma Needham, a mother of two, stated she had to wait for months before measures were implemented to address the issue at their home in the Horwich area of Bolton in Greater Manchester. She indicated that Lincoln, now two years old, developed bronchitis after consuming the mould, and her other son, Theodore, was later hospitalized with breathing problems. Social housing provider Bolton at Home affirmed that the mould was removed “as a matter of urgency” and new vents were installed to resolve dampness issues. Ms. Needham mentioned she has resided in her flat in Cheriton Gardens for over four years. Despite her efforts to eliminate damp and mould and maintain the property’s dryness, she noted the problem worsened last year. She stated Lincoln repeatedly suffered from bronchitis and had been hospitalized on multiple occasions. In December 2023, Ms. Needham recounted her shock upon discovering Lincoln’s box of toys covered in green and black mould. She concluded that Lincoln “was eating the mould.” Ms. Needham reported that when she directly informed Bolton at Home about the problems in early 2024, she was advised to wait due to a backlog of housing issues. She expressed being “disgusted” by this response, particularly as she had highlighted her young son’s illness. Ms. Needham also conveyed her urgency to rectify the mould before the birth of her second child, stating she was “terrified” he would also be affected. Theodore was born in March. However, within days of being brought home, his mother said he developed breathing difficulties and spent five days at Royal Bolton Hospital on an oxygen tube. A GP subsequently wrote to Bolton at Home, noting that while Theodore experienced wheezing problems at the flat, his condition improved during periods spent away. On several occasions following an inspection by Bolton at Home in June, the family moved into hotels while mould removal and vent installation were carried out. Ms. Needham stated that while her children’s health had improved, she feared the work on the property was merely a “temporary fix.” She remarked, “I just feel like I am on a waiting game,” adding, “Is it going to come back, are my kids going to be OK?” She further commented, “It’s the middle of winter – and I’ve got my windows open all the time to stop the damp.” Ms. Needham reported that Bolton at Home had offered her £100 due to issues remaining from the vent installation work at her residence. “I was fuming,” she stated, accusing Bolton at Home of refusing to accept responsibility for the mould. She confirmed she is still awaiting the outcome of her complaint to the Housing Ombudsman. A spokesperson for Bolton at Home indicated that it had “urgently” arranged for work to remove the mould and reduce humidity levels after Ms. Needham first reported the issue. He added that she had received advice on “reducing humidity and improving ventilation” and would undergo “regular follow-up checks.” Councillor Ryan Bamforth raised Ms. Needham’s case at a Bolton Council meeting, describing it as “absolutely heartbreaking” and “what no young family should have to go through.” He asserted, “It’s just not acceptable in any form or way and we should be expecting and receiving a better service in regards to our social housing.” Councillor Bamforth informed BBC Radio Manchester that a wider issue exists across Bolton concerning some social homes “being allowed to be run down and sold off” for profit. In a statement, Bolton Council commented: “We understand how upsetting this must have been for Emma Needham and her family.” The statement continued: “In cases where there is an open complaint with the Housing Ombudsman, and where the provider has failed to take appropriate action, the council will take enforcement action.” CLARIFICATION – 4 December 2024: The article initially referred to the property as a “council flat” instead of “social housing.” While “council flat” is frequently used generically, the more precise term “social housing” should have been employed. For more content, listeners can access the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story ideas can also be submitted to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk and via Whatsapp at 0808 100 2230. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Further information on their external linking policy is available.