A family-of-seven living in a two-bedroom flat in Withywood, Bristol, says they are enduring a 'living hell' due to mould, damp, and rats in the ceilings. Adrian Paisey and his partner Lucy Neale report that their children are afraid to sleep, and they have been struggling to get adequate help from their housing association, Curo.
Mr Paisey, 33, stated that the past ten years in the flat have been 'nothing but hell', with mould and damp spreading through the kitchen and children's bedroom. He claims Curo treated the mould two years ago with a ten-year guarantee, but the problems have returned. The housing association attributes the mould to overcrowding and condensation.
The couple also report a rat infestation, with rodents digging holes through walls and running in the kitchen ceiling. They have set traps but say Curo has not resolved the issue. Curo apologised and said a specialist surveyor will visit this week to assess the damp and mould, and pest control contractors are currently treating the building.
The family's one-year-old son Jenson has brain cysts and respiratory difficulties. A paediatrician advised they need to move immediately. Mr Paisey, who suffers from anxiety and depression, says they are eligible for a four-bedroom property but are stuck on a waiting list with over 16,000 others. Bristol City Council acknowledged the housing crisis and said they prioritise urgent cases.
