Amid the housing crisis, a Queensland woman was facing a grim choice as mould spread throughout her home -- either move out or watch her health deteriorate. That was until she found an unlikely guardian angel in the form of a property agent.
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00:00 It's hard to imagine now, but 12 months ago Prudence McGuire was at death's door.
00:08 The 37-year-old lives with cystic fibrosis and found mould spreading through her rental
00:13 property.
00:14 I've never seen anything like it.
00:15 It made me jump back because I know how bad anything mould related is for humans, especially
00:24 with a lung condition.
00:25 She was hospitalised with complications from her living conditions.
00:29 Her doctor wrote to the owners saying "This mould exposure has a clear and significant
00:35 negative effect on her chronic, severe medical conditions.
00:39 I have advised her to move."
00:41 Ms McGuire faced a horrible predicament, choosing between her health or having a roof over her
00:47 head.
00:48 Until a chance meeting.
00:50 I knew she was struggling, so I really wanted to help her.
00:54 Property agent Sally McCormick found her a home, despite the region being in the grip
00:59 of a rental shortage.
01:00 Soon Prudence McGuire's health began to improve.
01:04 Sally honestly has saved my life.
01:06 No, I don't think that I've gone above and beyond and I just think, yeah, we're just
01:10 doing our job.
01:12 Advocates say it's a good outcome, but renters shouldn't need to be saved.
01:17 People should be assured that when they move into a property, it's safe and it's healthy.
01:21 New rental laws are in place this month, which force landlords to supply a minimum standard
01:26 of housing.
01:28 That includes ensuring there's no mould when a tenant moves in.
01:32 While the laws weren't in place to help Prudence McGuire, she says she's finally at home.
01:39 It really has been, for the first time in my life, a home.
01:42 [BLANK_AUDIO]