‘Toxic mould is affecting health of my little boy’ says Stamford Hill mum

Mould in Charlotte Pearson's Stamford Hill house. Picture: Charlotte Pearson (Image: Archant)

Charlotte Pearson, 29, has had to throw out bags of clothes and furniture as a result of the fungus in her Amhurst Park home.

She first noticed it in December and got straight on to the town hall, but nothing has been done for three months. Since then, her health has suffered – and so has that of her three-year-old son Chayce.

“I’ve had to throw away clothing, shoes and furniture that has been ruined,” Charlotte told the Gazette. “And that I can live with because these items are replaceable.

“But my son spends most of the night coughing and struggling to breath.

“My son is autistic. I can’t bear for him to have physical health problems too. Something needs to be done. We are now forced to sleep on my sofa. It’s not comfortable – it’s only a two-seater – but there’s less coughing, which is a relief.

“I tried to go back and sleep in the bedroom but Chayce’s breathing started playing up again.”

Charlotte even turned to her MP Diane Abbott for help, and her office referred her case to the town hall.

“I have washed, used a home treatment and redecorated,” she added. “Within a week the mould has grown back. Thick furry mould.

“I was open minded about the possibility of this being a lifestyle issue. But I use vents, extractor fans, have five damp traps, I open the windows during the day and I don’t hang up washing in the home.”

The council has now arranged to visit next week.

A town hall spokesman said: “We’ve spoken to the resident and have arranged to visit her property on Monday to look at removing the mould while addressing its cause.

“We would like to apologise for the unacceptable delay in responding to the complaint.”