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Mum struggles with mushroom and mould-infested Golding Homes flat in Cornwall Close for two years

A mum is desperate for help after the mould in her flat became so bad that mushrooms started sprouting from the ceiling.

Anna Marie Gereb moved into her Golding Homes property in Cornwall Close, Maidstone, in September 2021 while heavily pregnant.

Mushroom growing from the flat’s ceiling.Picture: Anna-Maria Gereb
Mushroom growing from the flat’s ceiling.Picture: Anna-Maria Gereb

A couple of months later her daughter Alyssa was born and shortly after mould started growing through her ceiling.

She spent thousands of pounds trying to sort the problem herself but two years later, the problem has only got worse with funghi now growing from the ceiling.

It appeared last month and after clearing it a second one sprouted this week.

She said: “A baby is being raised in this. She is now two years old and has only ever lived in these conditions.

“It’s stressful for both me and my mum but I don’t have a choice. I have to live in this.

Anna-Maria Gereb with her daughter Alyssa. Picture: Anna-Maria Gereb
Anna-Maria Gereb with her daughter Alyssa. Picture: Anna-Maria Gereb

“Sometimes my mum will look after my daughter to get her away from the mould but I hate being away from her.”

Anna, who works in customer services, believes the issue comes from burst water pipes above the home. The problem has been made worse since her boiler broke two months ago.

The 20-year-old says she has spent more than £2,000 trying to sort some of the issues herself by stripping wallpaper and repainting walls but feels like she needs help from the housing association.

She added: “I honestly don’t know what to do if this doesn’t get sorted. I’ve been trying for two years but no one seems to be helping me and my daughter.

“I’ve got to a point where I can’t do it anymore.

Damp and water running down Anna’s bedroom wall. Picture: Anna-Maria Gereb
Damp and water running down Anna’s bedroom wall. Picture: Anna-Maria Gereb

“I want her to be in a safe place and I ask them what would you do if you had to live here.

“I get allergy reactions from this, my skin is getting itchy and I feel very dizzy and weak; I’m definitely not feeling my best.

“I would take my daughter to the doctor almost every week because she was getting a fever and a cold. I told them about the mould and they said it could be affecting her.

“I feel very stressed. I can’t keep my head clear and I can’t focus properly knowing I have to come back here.”

Rachel McFarlane, Executive Director of Customer Experience at Golding said: “We completed repairs to Ms Gereb’s home in November 2022 following reports of damp and mould made on March 30, 2022.

Mushroom growing from the ceiling of the flat in Cornwall Close. Picture: Anna-Maria Gereb
Mushroom growing from the ceiling of the flat in Cornwall Close. Picture: Anna-Maria Gereb

“We attended an emergency leak in July 2023. This week we completed a survey on this new damp and mould issue and are following up (August 2) with an appointment to carry out further repair works.

“We’re sorry for the length of time this is taking to resolve the situation in Ms Gereb’s home.”

Anna confirmed people came on August 2 to look at the house but is adamant nothing has been sorted in any inspection they have carried out.

She said: “I reached out to my MP about this and they were sent the same response.

“They haven’t fixed anything. I have spent my money sorting stuff out. I don’t know why they are telling people they have sorted it.”

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