In a recent interview between Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Chesterfield, Ben Flook, and local resident in Chesterfield, Emma Robinson, Chamber UK investigated her horrific living conditions and asks why more is not being done to ensure homes are fit for human habitation. Emma is living in a home inundated with mould which has subsequently impacted her mental and physical health. Despite efforts to get this tended to in January, it is only now that Chesterfield Borough Council are making any progress on the issue.
This is an issue that is common across many homes throughout the United Kingdom, which is consequently placing further strain on the NHS. In a recent report looking at health inequalities with focus on cold and damp homes, it is estimated that the cost of remedial work to remove the risk of exposure to this type of inadequate living in England would equate to £6.2 billion. Therefore, to prevent the situation getting worse and relieve the financial burden of this issue, it is imperative that we address these issues with urgency.
As a policy institute, Curia’s Levelling Up Commission has undertaken an inquiry into housing and homelessness, proposing recommendations to improve living conditions. Recommendations include relevant authorities taking preventative measures, increased funding for local government to empower communities, and implementing an integrated approach to local public services addressing these issues comprehensively. Emma’s plight vividly illustrates the consequences of overstretched local council services. When councils cannot effectively fulfill their role of providing solutions at the local level, conditions deteriorate for local residents. This situation underscores the urgency of proactive measures to prevent such outcomes and mitigate their impact.
Emma’s Struggle With Mould: A Microcosm of Local Government Failures
While on the campaign trail, Flook introduced Curia alongside Emma, a Chesterfield resident, who shared her ongoing struggle with Chesterfield Borough Council over her dire living conditions. Emma initially reported a leak from above her flat to the council, which they addressed but later dismissed, claiming it needed time to dry out despite ongoing issues.
After reaching out to her local MP and receiving no satisfactory response, Emma turned to the media. This prompted a council inspector to visit, attributing the problem to cleaning neglect and condensation. Upon inspection, it was revealed that the issue was more severe, with dry, rotting wood beneath the skirting board, indicating longstanding neglect and problems with the construction of the recently built social housing accommodation.
Left with minimal heat insulation, an extremely cold bathroom, mould, and dry rotting wood, it has been a total of over four months since Emma raised the issue. Emma is still living in the apartment, with degrading mental and physical health.
To watch the full video detailing the problems that Emma has faced, please click below.
In response to Emma’s case, Chesterfield MP, Toby Perkins said, “I can see Ms Robinson contacted our office on 15th January, and we raised a complaint with the Council about delays to repairs on the 16th. The Council should have responded to her directly – once we refer a complaint or request for service the council will usually contact the constituent directly unless we have instructed otherwise. I cannot see any other contact from Ms Robinson on our system since 16th January so we would have assumed that it had been dealt with.”
Whilst this is true, Mr Perkins’ office delegated the issue to other local authorities who did not remedy the situation.
In response to the ongoing case, a spokesperson for Chesterfield Borough Council said: “As a responsible landlord, the safety of our tenants is our top priority – we take all report of damp and mould seriously and aim to complete any repairs as soon as possible.
Some of the damp in Emma’s flat was a result of a leak in the flat above her property. The leak has now been resolved and our team are working with Emma to complete the works associated with damp and mould to discuss the different ventilation options available for her property.
We encourage any tenants who are experiencing damp and mould to report it to the council as soon as possible to allow our team to investigate and carry out necessary repair work.
The council has also committed further investment to help tackle damp and mould in homes. A recent review has shown that the number of homes experiencing issues with damp and mould has almost halved, but the council remains committed to tackling these issues.”
Curia’s Levelling Up Commission:
In previous Levelling Up Commission inquiries, looking at the effects of insufficient home insulation, the Commissioners identified that poor home insulation can negatively impact comfort and energy efficiency, further perpetuating issues of mould and poor air quality. Click here to read more.
The Levelling Up Commission considers how the valuable aims of the levelling up agenda can be achieved from the perspective of local and regional government, as well as service providers across all four areas of public policy detailed below. All too often, levelling up is being done ‘to and for’ communities, rather than in partnership. The Commission intends to ensure this is led locally.
Curia is in the process of completing the Levelling Up Commission report as part of their Industrial Strategy Research Group. For more information, please contact team@curiauk.com.
Final Thought:
Mould is a widespread issue affecting communities nationwide, not just limited to Chesterfield. Its main impact is on respiratory health, often leading to conditions like asthma due to decreased air quality. Additionally, as mould grows, it becomes costlier to address, straining public and local finances already under pressure. Early intervention with preventative measures is key to mitigating both the health and financial burdens associated with mould, offering relief to strained government budgets.