A mum-of-three has expressed concerns for her children after she claims they became ill from mould in her “overcrowded” Greenwich home.

The mum, who wishes to be kept anonymous, has been living inside a Council-owned two bedroom maisonette in Earl Rise, Plumstead since March 2017.

She told the News Shopper that the “mould” has “led her two youngest children develop Bronchitis” – claiming that her seven-month-old son has recently been on a nebuliser.

News Shopper:

A spokesperson for Greenwich Council said it has “identified a condensation issue at the resident’s home, not dampness” and that it has “advised the resident how to properly ventilate her home”.

The woman said she first noticed the “mould” in 2018 and claims it has been getting “progressively worse”.

She said: “My three year old daughter has had bronchitis since she was six months, and my seven-month-old baby has recently been on a nebuliser because he was struggling to breathe - they keep getting really unwell from the mould and the damp.

“It is becoming an extremely stressful and upsetting situation.

“I keep the maisonette clean and tidy and I have informed the council of the health issues my children are facing, but they can only suggest removing the ceiling and putting a new one in.

News Shopper:

“This would mean I would have to remove the furniture from my children’s room and then put everything back afterwards - but my baby is seven months and I do not have the time to do that.”

A Greenwich Council spokesperson said it has “identified an external wall that would benefit from additional insulation”.

They added that the Council is “working with the resident for the work to be done”.

The woman explained that the council has carried out frequent mould washes, but says it has done “nothing”, and that the “mould reappears much worse”.

She added: “I keep my house clean and tidy, but the mould is in my children’s bedroom, my bedroom, the bathroom, and the toilet – the mould has progressively become worse.

“The mould is wet, and it is running down the walls in my bedroom, which is building more mould across the wall.

“A few months ago, a mould wash was carried out, but it done nothing, and the mould returned a day later and much worse.”

News Shopper:

The woman lives with her husband and two youngest children in Earl Rise.

She said: “I am classed as living in a severely overcrowded house - we are living in a two bed maisonette but four of us live here.

“The ideal situation would be moving us out of the house.”

News Shopper:

A spokesperson for Greenwich Council says it appreciates the resident’s desire to move, but “sadly due to the housing crisis there are over 23,900 households on the housing waiting list”.

The full Greenwich Council statement said: “Following an inspection in November 2021 the Council identified a condensation issue at the resident’s home and not dampness.

“We have advised the resident how to properly ventilate her home to prevent condensation and clean mould from the shower.

"We have also identified an external wall that would benefit from additional insulation and are working with the resident for the work to be done.

“We appreciate that the resident wants to move house but sadly due to the housing crisis there are over of 23,900 households on our housing waiting list.

"That's why we are working hard to increase the number of local homes available through our Greenwich Builds housing programme.”