A DEVONPORT mother claims she was told by Housing Tasmania that her children's breathing was the cause of extensive mould problems in her home.
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Tracey Lynd said a representative from HT said that the breathing of her and her nine children was causing moisture in her home, leading to mould.
HT manager housing operations Lynden Pennicott said HT categorically refuted the claim.
Single mother Miss Lynd said she and her family were suffering from health problems due to the mould in the home and had requested they be relocated, but HT was not budging.
Despite contacting HT two months ago, Miss Lynd said they had only heard that action would soon be taken, following a letter from her GP about the severity of the situation.
While HT has told her that a condensation unit and insulation would be installed in the home by June 24, Miss Lynd doesn't see how that would fix the problem as the mould is eating away at everything.
The mould is in the carpet, walls, bedding, clothing and more, and despite Miss Lynd's best cleaning efforts, it keeps coming back.
The health problems caused by the mould have been wide-ranging and include hospitalisation from mould-related illness.
Mould is growing everywhere
Mould has also ravaged the home's ceilings, mattresses, bed frames, cots, wardrobes, a toilet and toys. Only one of the home's 11 rooms is not affected by mould.
Miss Lynd has had to throw out thousands of dollars of possessions and had replaced as much as she could afford.
"I spent eight hours cleaning each wall and it has taken three weeks to get through all the mould in the house," she said.
"But it has already started to come back. I have stopped replacing things because I can't afford it."
Mould is creating health problems for the family
The family have been living in the home for the past two years and Miss Lynd first noticed the mould in the winter of 2013, with six of her children falling ill due to it.
"We went to the local GP because the kids had asthma, wheezing, nose problems," she said.
"The doctor told me to keep cleaning it [the mould]."
However, the mould became worse this winter and with it the health problems.
"Seven of my kids have asthma from the mould and the GP said that the house is in a poor state and this is likely to be causing health problems," Miss Lynd said.
Miss Lynd said that she and her other two children were also experiencing symptoms which she believed were caused by the mould.
"A mould inspector told me to stop cleaning the house, as it was getting into my immune system," she said.
"I can taste mould in my mouth and it makes me gag, my asthma is flaring up, my eyes are watery and stinging and burning, I have been coughing and choking in my sleep and I have a skin rash on my legs and arms.
"I had to go to hospital last Thursday... they said I was sick from the mould and it would be all through my system, in my nose and mouth. I have an infection in my legs too from it.
"My other two kids are starting to feel tired and dizzy in the head, have a sore throat and are starting to sneeze."
What the mould inspector said
On June 6 Miss Lynd said a mould inspector looked at her home.
"They said there were no downpipes at the back of the house, no ventilation under the house and no insulation," she said. "Moisture and mould were detected in the ceilings."
What Housing Tasmania said
Miss Lynd said she first went to HT two months ago and called again on June 6.
Mr Pennicott said HT first became aware of a possible issue with mould after receiving a letter from Miss Lynd's GP on June 3 and taking her phone call on June 6.
Mr Pennicott said it was decided in November last year, that Miss Lynd's home would receive a condensation control unit, additional draught-proofing and extra ceiling insulation as part of the HT energy champions program.
"All upgrades and maintenance are undertaken as quickly as possible with the most urgent cases receiving priority," he said.
Following the GP's letter on June 3, Mr Pennicott said HT acted immediately on this issue, organising for these items to be installed.
"This together with simple actions by the tenant to ensure the home is dry and well-aired should alleviate condensation build up in the property," Mr Pennicott said.
Miss Lynd said HT visited the home last week and indicated that breathing was one cause of the mould flare- up.
"They said because there is me and my nine children, we breathe too much and this has caused the moisture which then causes mould," she said.
Plea for relocation
Miss Lynd said that with mould in both the home's structure and contents, she couldn't see a solution that would allow her family's health to improve while living in the home.
"Water and mould is already in the walls, and mould is in the carpet too," she said.
"We need a new house."