Amesbury mother offered £100 to paint over mould in her flat

Lucy Tilley moved into her housing association flat, managed by Stonewater, at Sandell Place in October.

Since then, she said that her family's health has deteriorated as mould is spreading in their bedrooms. 

The 35-year-old told the Journal that she has sent complaints about water, dripping mould and loft draft to Stonewater.

She said the living conditions are "destroying her possessions" and taking a toll on her five-year-old daughter who suffers from asthma.

Lucy Tilley wants to move elsewhere. (Image: Salisbury Journal)

Miss Tilley has been using an immersion heater for all her hot water needs since moving into the flat, which is costing upwards of £40 every day to run. Stonewater offered £7.50 daily compensation.

Stonewater has blamed a broken solar panel for the lack of cost-effective electricity and said it is waiting for a part from overseas to get it fixed.

"It gets so cold in here that you can see your breath and it's costing a lot, especially when we have to run hot water for a bath," added Miss Tilley.

Sandell Place in Amesbury. (Image: Salisbury Journal)

Miss Tilley said that just three months after moving into her new home, she wants to leave again.

I should still be enjoying a new home, but I just want to get out.

Stonewater acknowledged Miss Tilley's complaints and sent a letter apologising and offering compensation for the trouble caused.

Among this compensation was an offer of £100 to "cover the costs of paint" to decorate the ceiling.

Miss Tilley said: "It's not a solution, the mould would be back in a couple of days. This is something they should have fixed before somebody moved in."

Mould inside Lucy Tilley's master bedroom

Assistant director of operations Ann Brookes, at Stonewater, said "no mould was present" during an inspection in December.

She added: "We have also organised for one of our contractors to visit the home to treat the mould that has developed since we last visited and advise on if we need to look at improved heating or ventilation to stop mould from reoccurring.

"A heating engineer visited Miss Tilley’s home on January 10 and explained how to use the thermostat to keep the temperature in her home warm and comfortable."

Water drips from the mould patches on the ceiling. (Image: Salisbury Journal)

John Glen, member of parliament for Salisbury, said: “I was concerned to hear of Miss Tilley’s situation and I have confirmed to her that I have approached her housing association to seek an urgent solution for the issues in her property.”