A young family is in despair over mould, water leaks causing damage and a bug infestation at their social home in Shinfield.
Livvy Cook, 22, and Shamen Goswell, 27, have an 11-month-old boy in a house that has been converted into flats in Frensham Green.
The house is owned and managed by Wokingham Borough Council as social housing, with them living on the ground floor.
The couple were given the property, but have had ongoing issues with mould. Photos provided show carpet damaged by water, and water from the flat above hitting their microwave, kitchen surfaces and appliances.
Ms Cook said: “There’s been damp and mould, and now we’ve got a leak, a sewage smell in the bathroom, and bugs crawling over the floor because of the damp and mould, and they still think it’s suitable for us to be living there.
“The council relocated us while they said they’d be getting rid of the mould in July, it took them from March to figure out what needed to be done.”
The family were put in temporary accommodation until September 28.
Ms Cook has complained that the council have charged them bills both for the temporary accommodation and the social home while work on the property took place.
She said: “They said they would pay the rent at the temporary accommodation, but we’ve been stuffed with two bills for two places.
“I think they think we’re made of money at this point. It looks like the only thing they’ve done is make the garden better, they’ve painted over the walls, and all we get from the council is ‘the surveyor has signed off on it, so it’s been done’.”
She has since conceded that the council has fixed the mould and damp in the bedroom, lowered the ground outside, installed a vent and new flooring in the bathroom, and provided new carpets damaged from the water leak.
Ms Cook said: “They keep saying everything is fixed, that’s the answer we get.
“I do still check for mould.
“My maternity leave has been destroyed, I’ve been bounced around and I’m not getting a proper answer, my son hasn’t been able to settle properly.
“I was constantly on edge, worried the mould would come back. I’m asthmatic; they’re lucky my son didn’t get sick from this.
“I’m a first-time mum, and I’m dealing with all this in motherhood; no one should have to do this with their newborn son.
“They should have fixed all this before even offering the property.”
Ms Cook previously made a request to be permanently rehomed.
Wokingham Borough Council is unable to comment on individual cases.
However, a spokesperson did say that the council is aware of the issues raised by Ms Cook and is working to support the family as much as it can.
