A BASILDON man has spoken of his “nightmare” three years living in a leaking flat full of mould.

Jack Whitchelo, 24, lives in a flat owned by Swan Housing Association on Long Riding in Basildon with his fiancé Melissa Hart, 22.

He claims he has been in a constant battle with the housing team over mould continually coming back to his flat despite best efforts to get rid of it.

He has also shared footage of water leaking through the ceiling in various rooms of the house.

Mr Whitchelo, who works as a security guard, said he has developed several health issues because of the mould and has been put into hospital six times.

He said: “The bedsit me and my fiancé live in is full of mould that never goes away, no matter how many mould washes are done.

Echo:

“I’ve had leaks going on for three years and had £1000s worth of damaged property, I have now been diagnosed with asthma directly linked to the mould.

“I’ve lost two jobs through it all and to top it all off my fiancé is pregnant and has a hole in her heart as it is.

“We are pushing to be moved out ASAP due to the baby, and not just the health issues that are linked to the flat, but also the stress of it all, I have been hospitalised 6 times from it all in the last year and half.”

Mr Whitchelo said he has been unable to move out and rent privately due to his limited income and his fiancé’s health issues, and is calling on Swan Housing to take proper action over the mould.

He added: “Many other flats in our block have also had the same problems, but they’re looked after by Basildon Council, who have done repairs.

“But Swan Housing just don’t want to bother. It’s an absolute nightmare and I don’t want to have to bring a child into this flat.

“We just want them to do something or help us move into somewhere else, it’s horrendous.”

A Swan Housing spokesman said: "We are committed to working with our repairs Partner, Axis, to ensure we complete the last repairs to make good Mr Whitchelo‘s ceiling in what has been a complex repairs issue. 

"We have been working with the resident for some time to resolve leaks from outside Mr Whitchelo’s  flat, as it was first established that there was damage to the roof of the building, which we worked with Basildon Council, as the owner to resolve.

"Subsequently it was discovered there was a further leak from the flat above Mr Whitchelo’s. It took several attempts for Basildon Council to gain access to the property, at which point they carried out repairs to this leak to ensure this issue could be resolved as quickly as possible. 

"Now that these leaks have been remedied, we will be working with Mr Whitchelo to establish a suitable date for us to carry out the final repairs to his property.”