A man who suffers from a range of serious health conditions has criticised Wokingham Borough Council for inaction over what he claims is ‘black mould’ that has spread through his home.
Craig Faulkner, 51, lives in Camborne Close, Lower Earley, in a home he rents from the local authority.
Problems for Mr Faulkner and his partner began in April, when mould started spreading in the house due to a water leak.
He has accused the council of ‘months of inaction’.
The resident said: “I’ve got a heart problem and toxins in my body from the mould. There’s black mould right through the floorboards, the ceilings, on the bed, under the floorboards.
“I raised it in April and only now are they [the council] deciding to do anything about it.
“It’s been going on for nine months, there’s water leaking onto the floorboards and the carpets have gone mouldy, you can smell it.”
Images Mr Faulkner has provided to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) shows rotting wood, damp walls, and specks of what appear to be black mould.
Mr Faulkner said a substantial portion of the house has been afflicted with mould, including the floorboards, carpets, walls, the bedroom, and a new kitchen that was installed eight months ago.
Mr Faulkner threatened the council with ‘Right to Repair’ which states that if a repair cannot be completed in an agreed timescale, a tenant has the right to request a second contractor to complete the works.
The council has begun a project to remove the mould.
Mr Faulkner, his partner and their two pet dogs were moved to a chalet at California County Park in Finchampstead on Saturday, December 10, so the work can take place.
He claims he was moved out on recommendation of a doctor, fearing a decline in Mr Faulkner’s on-going health conditions.
Although Wokingham Borough Council does not comment on individual cases, Cllr Stephen Conway (Liberal Democrats, Twyford), the council’s executive member for housing, said: “Our housing teams have never and would never leave one of our tenants living in a property with a serious black mould problem.
“We investigate all reports of mould to us and treat them appropriately and quickly.”
After the LDRS received the response from the council, Mr Faulkner said the couple had been moved away from the chalet California County Park to new accommodation.
