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Sep 03, 2023

Scots gran says 'mystery' mould in council house is affecting her health and she can't sleep in bedrooms

Heather Todd is at the end of her tether in her damp-ridden council home. She

Heather Todd is at the end of her tether in her damp-ridden council home. She uses a specialist devices to protect her clothes from the damp.

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A Scots gran says damp and mould in her house is severely affecting her health – and she has a doctor's letter to prove it.

Heather Todd moved into her new-build council home in Faudhouse in 2018 and says experts are at a loss as to why the problem is so bad.

Heather (65) has COPD and arthritis and her partner has asthma. She has a letter from her doctor which says fixing the damp in her house would help with her health conditions - but she says she's getting nowhere with West Lothian Council.

Heather, a former optical assistant, told the Courier: "The mould around the windows and in the toilet has been there about four years but the main issue with severe damp and mould is in our bedroom and other parts of the house that we noticed about six months ago.

"We had an inspector out in January and then had someone out from Peter Cox which is a specialist mould and damp company in February who initially thought the problem was coming from under the floor, but this wasn't the case when that was checked.

"A month later we had the same specialist and another one come out again and they both admitted they had never seen anything like it and really didn't have any idea what was causing it.

"I’ve phoned repeatedly and sent e-mails to the council to try and find out where we go from here but no one is updating me on the situation even though I’ve sent in a doctor's letter explaining how this is affecting my health and told the council that I’m unable to sleep in either bedroom because of the mould and damp.

"I have COPD, arthritis and I suffer from anxiety, stress and depression and my partner has asthma and this house is affecting both our physical and mental health."

Heather continued: "I worked up until covid as I was in the extremely vulnerable category so was on the shielding list and got put on furlough.

"Afterwards when the restrictions were lifted I got paid off from work as I was unable to return to my role as an optical assistant as I am unable to wear a face mask because of my respiratory condition.

"It's an actual disgrace what we are having to live in."

A spokesperson for West Lothian Council said: "We are aware of the circumstances that the tenant is experiencing.

"The council appointed an external consultant to carry out a survey at the property.

"The council has received the report from the consultant and is liaising with Ms Todd to discuss the findings and arrange the necessary repairs.

"It's expected that the repairs will be completed by the end of May."

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