A man says his council flat is so mould-ridden it left a relative hospitalised with a lung infection.
Brandon Handleigh, 19, claims he's been living in "atrocious" conditions since he moved into his partner's grandparent's flat in November 2022.
His partner and grandparents have lived in the flat for 15 years, but issues began around three years ago.
They noticed moisture on the walls and floor after a kitchen drimaster - a device to reduce humidity - was replaced.
The problems persisted until Swansea Council intervened in March 2023 when they stripped the walls.
But Brandon says their attempts were unsuccessful with the replastered clumps of plaster sliding off the wall.
Just weeks later, conditions worsened and Brandon said he woke up feeling like he was "walking through a puddle".
Black mould has since engulfed his and his partner's room - covering their desk, bed and draws before spreading to the rest of the flat.
Brandon says he struggles with his anxiety and is "constantly worried" about his health.
His partner's grandad has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma and he says he was been hospitalised after the black mould spores brought on a lung infection.
Throughout their ordeal, the family say they have had several different inspections from Swansea Council, but Brandon says more needs to be done.
Brandon, currently unemployed, from Swansea, Wales, said: "It's really distressing, I have health anxiety and I'm constantly worrying about what the mould is going to do to me.
"It smells like rotting food, dusty, rotting food.
"It's always so hot in the bedroom as well.
"Our clothes have been destroyed as the inside of a chest of draws was covered with mould on the inside.
"The quality of life living here is atrocious, I haven't got words, to be honest.
"That's just my bedroom.
"It's in the kitchen, the plaster on the ceiling is falling down and is mouldy.
"It's in the lounge - all over the walls.
"My partner's grandparent's room isn't as bad as our room but the wallpaper is falling, mould is growing in the draws, all over the ceiling.
"We've reported this all to the council."
The flat also has a stream running underneath it and Brandon believes that could be contributing to their issues.
He said: "We have a spring running through the estate down underneath our house and I think something is allowing all the water to come up through the floor and out the walls.
"That started three or four years ago as well.
"You can feel the air is wet, I get water droplets walking around my bedroom."
Brandon says a dehumidifier was broken from the excess moisture.
Desperate to fix their crumbling flat, Brandon says they have had several inspections of the flat "without progress".
He said: "Since March 2023, we've had inspections.
"They always say they're going to take it back to office and assess.
"When we chase them up they just tell us they're still assessing it.
"In the past two years, we've had multiple inspections.
"The workman that came out in March 2023 - when they tried to replaster the walls - said it would all come back and get worse."
After a recent inspection of the flat August 16, the family say they were told they were generating too much heat but claim they never have the heating on.
A spokesperson for Swansea Council said: "Our Housing Team has been working hard to respond to issues raised by the tenant in relation to various issues at the property.
"This has included carrying out a number of repairs throughout 2023 and this year, including the installation of a dehumidifier to assist with condensation.
"Following the installation of equipment to deal with condensation, our inspectors made further arrangements with the tenant in January 2024 to visit and inspect the property.
"Unfortunately, the tenant was not home for the planned visit, so an inspection was not possible.
"We always advise tenants about the importance of being available for planned visits so improvements and repairs can be planned.
"Further inspections in July this year have identified additional repairs to help rectify any further issues with damp and mould.
"This includes replacing ceilings and painting of interior walls.
"Swansea Council has made a commitment of investing £55 million into its current housing stock to ensure properties meet national housing standards.
"A further £200m is planned for investment over the next four years."
Brandon Handleigh, 19, claims he's been living in "atrocious" conditions since he moved into his partner's grandparent's flat in November 2022.
His partner and grandparents have lived in the flat for 15 years, but issues began around three years ago.
They noticed moisture on the walls and floor after a kitchen drimaster - a device to reduce humidity - was replaced.
The problems persisted until Swansea Council intervened in March 2023 when they stripped the walls.
But Brandon says their attempts were unsuccessful with the replastered clumps of plaster sliding off the wall.
Just weeks later, conditions worsened and Brandon said he woke up feeling like he was "walking through a puddle".
Black mould has since engulfed his and his partner's room - covering their desk, bed and draws before spreading to the rest of the flat.
Brandon says he struggles with his anxiety and is "constantly worried" about his health.
His partner's grandad has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma and he says he was been hospitalised after the black mould spores brought on a lung infection.
Throughout their ordeal, the family say they have had several different inspections from Swansea Council, but Brandon says more needs to be done.
Brandon, currently unemployed, from Swansea, Wales, said: "It's really distressing, I have health anxiety and I'm constantly worrying about what the mould is going to do to me.
"It smells like rotting food, dusty, rotting food.
"It's always so hot in the bedroom as well.
"Our clothes have been destroyed as the inside of a chest of draws was covered with mould on the inside.
"The quality of life living here is atrocious, I haven't got words, to be honest.
"That's just my bedroom.
"It's in the kitchen, the plaster on the ceiling is falling down and is mouldy.
"It's in the lounge - all over the walls.
"My partner's grandparent's room isn't as bad as our room but the wallpaper is falling, mould is growing in the draws, all over the ceiling.
"We've reported this all to the council."
The flat also has a stream running underneath it and Brandon believes that could be contributing to their issues.
He said: "We have a spring running through the estate down underneath our house and I think something is allowing all the water to come up through the floor and out the walls.
"That started three or four years ago as well.
"You can feel the air is wet, I get water droplets walking around my bedroom."
Brandon says a dehumidifier was broken from the excess moisture.
Desperate to fix their crumbling flat, Brandon says they have had several inspections of the flat "without progress".
He said: "Since March 2023, we've had inspections.
"They always say they're going to take it back to office and assess.
"When we chase them up they just tell us they're still assessing it.
"In the past two years, we've had multiple inspections.
"The workman that came out in March 2023 - when they tried to replaster the walls - said it would all come back and get worse."
After a recent inspection of the flat August 16, the family say they were told they were generating too much heat but claim they never have the heating on.
A spokesperson for Swansea Council said: "Our Housing Team has been working hard to respond to issues raised by the tenant in relation to various issues at the property.
"This has included carrying out a number of repairs throughout 2023 and this year, including the installation of a dehumidifier to assist with condensation.
"Following the installation of equipment to deal with condensation, our inspectors made further arrangements with the tenant in January 2024 to visit and inspect the property.
"Unfortunately, the tenant was not home for the planned visit, so an inspection was not possible.
"We always advise tenants about the importance of being available for planned visits so improvements and repairs can be planned.
"Further inspections in July this year have identified additional repairs to help rectify any further issues with damp and mould.
"This includes replacing ceilings and painting of interior walls.
"Swansea Council has made a commitment of investing £55 million into its current housing stock to ensure properties meet national housing standards.
"A further £200m is planned for investment over the next four years."
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