Man demands action after 'more than a decade' of dampness

Richard Okas Stephen Williams has lived on Braid Street in Woodside since 2011, in a flat owned by Queens Cross Housing Association (QCHA).

He has called on the landlord to take action over the dampness which he and his neighbours have been struggling with for years.

Mr Williams and his neighbour (Image: Gordon Terris, Newsquest)

Mr Williams at his home (Image: Gordon Terris, Newsquest)

Current dampness (Image: Gordon Terris, Newsquest)

The 54-year-old said: “My experience has been atrocious. When I moved into the place, it was a mess.

“I had to strip the wallpaper down, it was 1970 wallpaper.

“I have done the place myself, so I noticed damp sections and I notified QCHA.

“The main problem is coming from the rear bedroom wall and one section of the living room wall.

“Spots and blackness were coming through, so I have been cleaning it, giving it a wipe every now and then, thinking I will maintain it."

After tidying the walls himself got too time-consuming, the tenant stopped and notified the housing association every time the issue became unbearable, which was several times between 2018 and 2022.

The last time the walls were rid of the mould and excess water was just three months ago, however, the engineer claims the spots are growing quickly.

He said: "Now, signs are starting to show and the dampness is starting to come back through again.

“It’s bloody terrible, QCHA should have done the building, they should have cladded it.

“I’m really distraught and it’s upsetting me every time, I can’t even use my bedroom fully.

“You don’t want to be in a room where there is dampness every time.

“The dampness is having an effect on my health but I would rather something get done.

“It’s more serious because it has an effect on other people’s health, who are more elderly.

“Whatever circumstances somebody lives in, if that place is not clean, dry, waterproof, you are going to die.

“There are loads of neighbours who had issues.

“This whole block, a high percentage of them have problems with dampness."

Images of the damp (Image: Supplied)

The landlord could not confirm how long ago the first reports were made as their records don't stretch that far back.

It, however, has confirmed that since 2020, six tenants in the Braid Street block have reported dampness.

A spokesperson for Queens Cross Housing Association said: "Our access to homes was limited over the Covid period however our policy is that, where dampness or mould has been reported and treated, our maintenance team carry out an investigation within three working days with follow-up visits to check on the work carried out at the property after three and six weeks.

"We have visited and investigated all of Mr Williams’ reports of dampness in his home and have carried out internal works and fabric repairs as well as giving Mr Williams appropriate advice in relation to ventilating the property."