A housing association tenant is livid after being left with severe mould in her bathroom for more than a year.

Emily Cave first had problems at her home in Highland Road, Shepway, Maidstone, in 2018, which she says Golding Homes quickly fixed.

But a year ago the mould returned and she said she has been battling to find a remedy ever since.

She said: “It is all up the bathroom walls and has grown into the kitchen and a bit in the hallway. I have friends round and it’s embarrassing to have a bathroom in that state.

“I wouldn’t let a dog use it.”

Emily claims she has reported it 23 times but says Golding Homes has only been out to assess the situation twice.

She also feels the mould is affecting her physical health.

The 46-year-old was meant to have an operation on October 15 to resolve an ongoing issue. But prior to her appointment she caught a chest infection she believes was caused by the damp, forcing the vital surgery to be cancelled.

She said: “I’ve had a cold for months and the black spores of the mould isn’t helping.”

The mould has also created cracks in the walls, caused the wallpaper to peel and the building’s skirting boards have been damaged.

“I have to have the heating on all the time and with the cost of living going up I’m paying a fortune,” she explained.

“I’m unemployed so I can’t afford to treat it myself and with it being rented accommodation, Golding Homes have an obligation to sort it.

"It is awful and I am livid with them."

Golding Homes has since been in touch offering to send out a contractor to complete works, but Emily had to cancel as it clashed with the new date for her operation.

Annemarie Roberts, director of operations at Golding Homes, said: “We’re working with Ms Cave to resolve the issue of damp and mould in her home and have been keeping her up to date with what we’re doing.

“We’re sorry for the length of time this is taking and for the distress this has caused.”