‘HE must take serious damp and mould problems’

SDLP Housing Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA has called for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to take action on damp and mould in their properties.

He has also reiterated calls to Communities Minister, Deirdre Hargey to review the outdated minimum fitness standard for housing.

Speaking on the Assembly motion this week Mr Durkan said: “Damp and mould is a perennial issue within many Housing Executive properties across the North.

“And listening to tenants’ horror stories on a weekly basis is something my constituency office has become accustomed to.

“In fact, the first call my office received this week was from a concerned mother desperate for her pleas to be heard rather than being met by a wall of silence or the more common practice of dismissal from housing officers.

“The Minister has a duty of care to ensure that social housing standards are upheld. It is shameful that we have to demand action, to ask that accommodation is habitable and does not present a risk to the health and wellbeing of individuals and their families.

“During my time as an MLA, I’ve borne witness to multiple serious instances of not just damp but black mould in Housing Executive properties.

“One case which comes to mind was that of a young family. They were advised to open windows and to ensure their property was properly ventilated, with officers citing a superficial damp problem.

“Every member of the family, including their infant son suffered from persistent coughs and chest infections.

“Yet despite assertions from their GP that these illnesses were as a result of their housing conditions, no action was taken.

“It wasn’t until my office’s intervention that this family was finally heard and rehoused.

“What’s most frustrating is that this case is not unique. And to add insult to injury when attempting to rectify issues with damp, tenants are treated like idiots, told time and time again that valid concerns are merely ‘condensation.’

“It is shameful that so rampant has the issue of damp and mould become, that is now treated with a blasé attitude from some quarters within the Housing Executive.

“While I fully appreciate the financial constraints of the Housing Executive and acknowledge that the Cavity Wall Insulation Action Plan will have a role to play here, the Housing Executive can’t afford not to address the root causes or identify solutions to damp and mould within their existing housing stock.

“They must look inward and ask questions on how money is being spent as well as the cost-effectiveness of certain schemes.

“I’ve also written to Minister Hargey asking her to review of the current minimum Fitness Standard for housing, it’s outdated and must be replaced with something more comprehensive.”

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