'I'm 26 weeks pregnant and they won't let me leave my mould-ridden home'

A Chaddesden mum is fighting for clean air in her own home after unsuccessful attempts to be temporarily rehomed by the council

A Derby mum who is 26 weeks pregnant says she feels "let down" as mould continues to "take control" of her council flat. Chaddesden's Kira Chambers says both she and her three-year-old daughter, Tilly-Mae, are suffering from terrible chesty coughs as a result of living in their Derby Homes-managed property for the last four years.

The mould and damp issues at the two-bedroom flat were first noticed around a year ago and have been reported - and dealt with - by the council a number of times. Kira says the council has given a "short-term solution to a long-term problem", adding that the authority would offer to carry out a "wall wash", which they have done multiple times.

Despite the final wash taking place around two months ago, Kira says mould has already reappeared - and the brunt of the colder months is yet to take hold. She also says that, following a recent conversation with Derby Homes, she was advised to keep her heating on "all day" to solve the issue, which she says is "simply unaffordable".

"I just have nowhere else to turn, it's my last straw, I just don't know what to do," the 28-year-old said. "Both me and Tilly-Mae have been warned by doctors that we cannot continue living in the flat and my son, who is due to be born eight weeks premature later this year, cannot live in this home when he is born.

"I'm just so worried that I will have to continue living here while the flat is riddled with mould." While the issue is being resolved, Kira has moved herself and Tilly-Mae out of the home, to her mother's, however, she is not allowed to live away from the flat for more than three days due to the requirements of her housing benefit.

Now she says the council have offered to install a vent in the flat - which Kira says should've been there in the first place - and provide a free dehumidifier and replacements for damaged furniture, which has been ruined by the mould. Although Kira is grateful for this offer, she doesn't want to live in the home until the issue is resolved, fearing for the health of her unborn son, which is a high-risk pregnancy as it is, and that any new furniture will be damaged unless the flat is cleaned again.

Kira added: "I have been struggling with mould and damp conditions for more than a year now and the conditions are so poor that it is now affecting my daughter, which is just unacceptable. Not only do I worry for myself and my children, but I also worry about others in the city.

"If this is happening to me, I dread to think how much others are suffering at the moment. I've lived in loads of different properties and I have never seen anything like it. I feel like every time I stay at the flat, my health just gets worse. I just feel helpless, like I have nowhere else to turn."

Kira wants temporary accommodation until the issue is fixed and remarked how difficult the last year has been, particularly the last few months during which she has been pregnant while carrying out her normal duties as a single mum.

A spokesperson for Derby City Council, which runs Derby Homes at arm's length, said: "We are working closely with Kira to resolve the issues in her home. Our initial inspection of the flat does not suggest there are any property-related causes in this case. There were some signs indicating inadequate ventilation and heating to the flat and we have advised Kira on how to reduce the levels of condensation in her home.

"Previous appointments to complete this work have been unsuccessful, but we will continue to work with Kira to find suitable dates. We will keep working with Kira to monitor the situation, resolve any recurring issues and alleviate any further concerns she may have.”