'Once one thing is sorted something else happens... I just want a home where I can feel safe'

Tony Potts has been back and forth with his landlord for a decade, he says. "Once we get one thing sorted something else happens," he tells the Manchester Evening News.

The 39-year-old lives alone at a flat on Wyndham Park, in Prestwich, which he rents from housing association Onward Homes. It's the second property he has rented from the social landlord.

He claims the last flat he rented had 'cat urine coming through the walls' from a neighbour's property, before he was moved in December 2018. Both his previous property and his current one have been plagued with issues including leaks, he claims.

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Tony claims to have reported at least 10 issues at his current home - and more than 30 at the two properties. Most recently, he returned home from getting breakfast out to find his kitchen 'flooded', with the damage leaving mould in two cabinets, he claims.

Onward Homes has now issued an apology For the disruption. It says it has always fixed the issues at Tony's home, with workers next due to visit the property on Friday (November 15).

Tony, who has medical treatment that weakens his immune system, says he has a real fear his living condition is damaging his physical health as well as his mental health.

"I think for my health, I need to move," he told the M.E.N. "I don't want to move. I want to be in a property where I feel safe, where I can take my medication that I'm prescribed and I can relax and try to get better.

"The stress of moving is not ideal. But if I need to do that, then that's what I will have to do." Tony says that when he moved into his current property six-years-ago, issues of damp and mould appeared to have been painted over at window frames and on bathroom tiles, while there were issues with his plumbing.

In 2019, Tony was prescribed immunosuppressants to treat Crohn's disease following a flare-up. At the time, Tony had dealt with a leaking soil pipe at his home. He says he believes the stress caused by his housing situation worsened his Crohn's. This year, sewage began to come up from a grid outside his back door, which caused 'funny smells' in his home, he claims.

Tony says he had to walk through the sewage while getting in and out, until the issue was eventually resolved. He is currently worried about lasting damage caused by the leak in his kitchen on September 1, which tripped his electrics and has since led to damp and mould.

While he says mould is visible in two cabinets, Tony says he is worried about more severe damage behind. It's a particular concern due to the impact mould could have on his health, with his treatment for Crohn's making him more vulnerable, he adds.

Tony recently shared a letter from a specialist gastroenterology nurse at NHS Northern Care Alliance expressing concern about how his living conditions could impact his health. The letter, seen by the M.E.N. and sent by Tony to Onward Homes, says he is 'at an increased risk of infections, particularly upper respiratory infections'.

Damp and mould issues have become a key focus for social landlords in recent years following the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in Rochdale. Awaab's Law will soon come into force, with strict timeframes to fix and repair issues of damp and mould, following a successful M.E.N. campaign.

A spokesperson for Onward Homes said: "We regret that Mr Potts has experienced several leaks during his time as an Onward customer. While these issues have always been addressed, we understand the disruption that they have caused and would therefore like to apologise.

"We take any reports of damp and mould in our homes very seriously and have been in contact with Mr Potts to arrange a prompt appointment. Our specialist damp contractor will visit Mr Potts on Friday, November 15, to treat any mould in his kitchen cupboards and assess whether any further works are required.

"Our repairs manager will then find a convenient appointment to carry out a full inspection of Mr Potts’ home and discuss any outstanding maintenance concerns he may have. We will continue to work with Mr Potts to understand any extra support he may need from us, now and in the future."