A recent news story about mould and damp in council properties mirrors the experience of other council tenants, it has been claimed. Acomb resident Shelley Allison has also complained about the standard of her accommodation to the council by reporting damp problems in her Lindsay Avenue property but without success, she says.

But Acomb ward councillor Tracey Simpson-Laing has taken up her case, and is pressing the council to do something about this and another three properties on the estate that have reported damp in the past 12 months. She said:

"The situation for Miss Allison is a desperate one and I have every sympathy for her, trying to raise a young daughter on her own in an unfit property. She reported that the previous tenant was a heavy smoker, and that due to insulation problems, that she had yellow condensation dripping through her ceiling into her living room.

"As well as that she has damp in her bedroom, which the council's surveyor told her that although inherited, she would have to live with. I'm absolutely appalled at this treatment and even more so given she has a young daughter living in the property. Council housing is supposed to be a safety net for those that cannot afford market rents, rather than somewhere that makes them ill.

"It is a disgrace and an indictment on the council that anyone has to put up with this kind of housing. Despite assuring Ms Allison that she would be receiving extra insulation to tackle the problem, the council has now reneged on this promise. Meanwhile the mould has spread to the bathroom as well as one bedroom and living room".

Coun. Simpson-Laing is demanding action is taken by the council's Director of Housing in this and other damp properties where tenants are unable to prevent it occurring.

Ms Allison said:

"My problems with mould have existed since I moved in years ago, yet the council has done nothing despite a number of visits to my property. I do believe it is affecting the health of myself and my daughter.

"Not only is the thick, black mould an eyesore, it also smells of damp in my bedroom and I hate sleeping in there. The council has said it is caused by condensation and that it is not damp. But I do everything I can not to cause condensation.

"The condensation in my living room drips yellow from my ceiling due to the previous tenant having been a heavy smoker. I have just spent a lot of time and money decorating it, which seems to have been a waste. They have inspected my roof and said I need more insulation but say they haven't the money to put it in.

"Now the mould is coming through into my bathroom. I am worried my daughter's health is going to suffer and feel very stressed about it as it seems never-ending. I hate being at home because I'm sick of looking at and smelling the mould".