Sick tenants confront social landlords at awards show

For 14 years, Fatima has been living in social housing that she says is killing her. So when her landlord was nominated for a social housing award, she went to confront them.
[Watch the previous episode in this series here: • Rent crisis: how bad l... ]
The Affordable Housing Awards were established to highlight the good work being done in the social housing sector.
But the event was called off last year after the death of Awaab Ishak - a two-year-old boy whose Rochdale flat exposed him to “extreme” mould.
But the awards are back. And so are the social housing tenants who say now is not the time to celebrate.
Because tens of thousands of social tenants are living with damp and mould and one-in-ten social homes fail to meet the government’s decent home standard.
More social houses are sold off and demolished each year than new ones are built. There's an acute shortage of housing that’s deepening Britain’s ongoing rent crisis and leaving vulnerable tenants like Fatima with nowhere to go.
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Reporter - Milena Dambelli
Camera - Matthew Lucas
Editor - Alice Wagstaffe
Executive Producer - Kieron Bryan
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[@ClaudiaB-dc9xg]

Mold toxicity is no joke. Clean homes are so important. It’s expensive to detox from mold toxicity.

[@John-bk8kp]

And lives are an expensive loss even more so but, we have nothing to lose and plenty to gain .

[@simplesimon5739]

Vinegar kills mould as do the very watered-down bleach solutions they sell in supermarkets just for this. But no people are victims and unable to do anything for themselves apart from complaining.

[@babajaga158]

I get it for free. Not clean or maintain. I wany i want, never worked but I deserve it

[@hsjshdhsjshsh958]

@@babajaga158 That is exactly the landlord's mentality. The truth is that tenants work for a living, and landlords just live off the tenants' hard-earned money.

[@babajaga158]

@@hsjshdhsjshsh958 and how did they become landlords?? magicly got keys to a house drop from the sky?? ohh someone doesnt want to work hard to be a homeowner

[@Letstalk295]

Let me tell my story. Grow up in the foster systems from 12, moved around like i was a toy to just hand over to anyone living out of a trash bag. At 16 places in a hostel with 25 other young girls, that in itself was dangerous. Started working in nandos full time, did everything I was told to do. When I got to 18 I was told I was not getting a flat because I work full time. I explained I'm a foster kid and the response was your 18 and no longer in the service. Had to take them to court, judge basically called them stupid. Got my place after 4 years. They places me in drug and alcohol hostels, saying I needed to wait for a flat. Personally they tried to wait me out thinking I couldn't live there. Unfortunately for them there didn't know it was a peice of cake cinsidering how I grow up.

[@algamaboba167]

We're you finally offered somewhere?

[@bearc5737]

Unfortunately doing the right thing in this country often gets you nowhere. You get less and less help

[@lovedaybebe5881]

Well done you for never giving up on yourself and your right to a home . 🙏 sending blessings your way 🙏

[@Fan-zx1lz]

It is very Bad to be Alive in UK. Social services is collapsing and taxpayers are not getting benefits for the taxes paid.

[@Letstalk295]

@@Fan-zx1lz ita why places like nhs are not dealing with medical issues right away. They get funding From the government so they have to keep people in a cycle of sicknesses. And social services works alongside NHS to take a child from a mother having postnatal depression within the first 2 weeks. They are no longer helping people but keeping us sick and those who have babies and poor they have no chance its all about money now. Then the housing comes in and messes you up even more

[@rachel.mcgowan]

I've been sleeping in the living room for months because the back bedroom is totally unusable due to severe damp and mould. Moving out isn't an option because I'm a full-time carer for elderly disabled parents. Social housing is cheap yes, but conditions are appalling for a very high number of tenants.

[@sofiakhan4580]

Hi , get assessed by social service they may be able to guide you. If you care for your elders , you are a carer and can get guidance and help with certain things . You don’t need to get carers in , but it’s worth being under their radar

[@rachel.mcgowan]

@@sofiakhan4580 Thanks. Social services are already involved, they've been as helpful as could have asked for TBH, it's just the housing which is an issue because the landlord have a massive backlog of work and I don't think the problem can be fixed without MAJOR remedial work.

[@SVEVelsen]

Do you ventilate properly? Like 90% of mould problems are caused by tenants keeping everything shut and then doing extensive cooking or showering. There's also a provision where you can make a written demand 3x in a reasonable period (so it'll take a few months) and after that you can hire contractors yourself and forward the bill to the landlord. That does require you to front the cash though, can't make a contractor the victim of your disagreement, obviously. But going through the Small Claims Court to get it back is easy and can be done online, after you get a verdict, immediatly pay 60 quid to have it transfered to the High Court, and when you have the writ, hire high court enforcement who work no-cure-no-pay. Very difficult to resist paying an active high court writ. I've had a huge disagreement with my HOA over mould resulting from leakage, which dragged their heels for well over a year, and a letter that went "Please be informed that my contractors will cut through and cement up the offending sewer line in 6 weeks, works start at 17th of august. Please inform the appartments above mine their sewer acces will be cut starting then and can not be restored once cut. You will receive the bill for these works and it would please my lawyer if you have the audacity not to pay." Got called the same day by a HOA manager who had finally re-entered reality, they began remedial works 2 days later.

[@linhaton4957]

Get a dehumidifier. I have a humidity gauge and use a dehumidifier to keep my humidity less than 58 percent. It works well.

[@rachel.mcgowan]

@@SVEVelsen It's not my tenancy, it is my parents and I want to keep on the good side of the landlord so I will hopefully be offered a tenancy myself when they pass on.. which I will have a good case for but it's not guaranteed. So this probably wouldn't be a good course of action to take in this situation.

[@harlyslamm2888]

Blame the government who sold social homes and then condemned private landlords for reducing supplies and increase rents....This is government policy at work

[@sharonjones2400]

I have dealt with Peabody and if you as much mention their name to shelter, citizens advice or any law centre in London-they sigh and shake their head and tell you about what a nightmare they are. The fact that peabody won some thing is shocking. Peabody Trust is a disgraceful housing association. They care nothing for their residents and the company is populated dishonest and dishonorable people. Truly a disgrace of company

[@abbiebrown2733]

The government are shameful. The government needs to hold these shocking landlords to account. How dare the government organise awards for landlords that leave there tennants suffering. There should be huge fines for rogue landlords. Tennant's are being let down always while landlords profit from Tennant's misery . It is criminal what the government are doing . Tories are a disgrace

[@andybellklas1678]

It's nothing to do with landlords it's housing associations, I'm a landlord and I lease the properties to the housing association it's up to them how the property is kept and it's in the contract

[@nameundefinedname5307]

dont be stupid @@andrewfulton3435

[@x_Dude1]

The whole letting business in England is a maze of laws and rules. On top there are numerous people that live like wild ones. Houses are often old, not match current living standards.

[@Fan-zx1lz]

UK is becoming hopeless place every day. It is a struggle to survive there.

[@Paul-qg3iw]

Agree - lets shut down all new buy to let and close the sector.

[@eattherich9215]

Peabody should be called before a House of Commons committee to explain why it is not carrying out repairs and where the rent money is going.

[@RS-hr8mj]

The UK climate is very humid, compared with most continental Europe. I don't know why buildings in the UK are not fitted with dehumidifying infrastructure.

[@user-zm8ov6hc7s]

Probably wouldn’t be able to use them due to the price of electricity.

[@MT-ys6ju]

The problem is when the walls are cold from not being insulated properly.. The damp air inside condensates when it touches the cold surface and becomes water on the walls.. If they are not wiped down, mould grows.. We have this problem in Malta as our homes are not insulated at all and our winters are humid.. A good solution is to ventilate often and to get a dehumidifier that keeps the indoor air dry.

[@nameundefinedname5307]

houses need to be insulated properly then

[@MT-ys6ju]

@@nameundefinedname5307 I agree, ultimately this is what needs to be done but in the meantime there are things that help. In Malta we barely get a winter, so insulation would be counter productive.

[@icilmaa]

If I got £1 every time I'm told to ventilate my room which I do anyway, I'd be rich.

[@luisfreitas886]

​@@icilmaabuy a dehumidifier then

[@HK-vy3fh]

Dehumidifiers are not very suitable for people with dry skin conditions and dry eye diseases. And will have to be used in another room at the very least or use the disposable tub or hanging dehumidifiers and maybe window vacuums to suck up excess water.

[@user-zm8ov6hc7s]

Unfortunately with 6 people living in the house you must make sure there is a flow of air throughout the home. Mould starts with moist air not being replaced by fresh air.

[@DejamLuFiak]

Well glad her damp and mold problem is being sorted. All that caused by a leaky bathroom pipe. Imagine living with that for all those years because the landlord wouldn't send someone to take a look.

[@chrislambert9435]

DeJam, When normal private home owners get Mould on the windows, doors (or just anywhere in their homes) they wash it off with Bleach in hot water, this never fails. Why cant Social Housing Tenants do this ? ?

[@hmull4882]

@@chrislambert9435because it’s mostly due to leaks this condensation nonsense is more rare than they will have you believe. Housing associations are difficult enough to get to accept responsibility and do a repair adequately more often then not. It’s also not uncommon for them to make a repair and create a whole second job because of their shoddy work. They don’t maintain basics like windows roofs heating systems and so on for decades after it needs doing year in year they increase rents. A large proportion of housing association tenants also don’t have low social housing rent they also rent private properties out and affordable rents which sit slightly lower than average local private rents and people go work and pay their rent every month and these properties should be of an acceptable standard.

[@XoCaliburn]

@@chrislambert9435 Is that not just temporarly getting rid of the mould itself? Doesn't remove the initial cause of the problem does it? It'll just happen again.

[@MB-we4dx]

@@chrislambert9435 They aren't the owners. Why should I fix someone's house when the contract says that maintenance is included? Not only are we paying for their mortgages, but you want us to pay for their maintenances too? Insane. These "social houses" aren't free per se, these people paid taxes until they became disable. Also the government does allocate money for these houses, but the management spends it on self-gratifying fancy events like that one shown in this documentary.

[@chrislambert9435]

How many times does a House-Holder wipe clear their Kitchen worktops ? Whats-up are you afraid of work ?

[@anthonymarch-ti1fq]

More people who have come to our country on benefits which we pay for complaining about there homes they get for nothing. Makes me sick.

[@SuperSquall2009]

Exactly...if its that bad in UK..go home.....see what they'll get then....nothing

[@XYZ-td6sn]

I’m British but I left for Mexico 2 years ago - to this day it shocks me how even the poorest people here have more integrity in their houses - as shoddy as they may seem on the surface - than back home. Sure the UK has cold / damp issues generally, but believe it or not the same can happen here, people would just not stand for it, British people just stand around tutting at things and umming and ahing- get lawyers, form a class action.

[@sofiakhan4580]

Problem is lawyers are expensive and these landlords deliberately drag out the cases.

[@mp71001]

@@sofiakhan4580 There are plenty of no win no fee lawyers who specialise in housing disrepair. I think the bigger problem is many people don’t understand their rights also.

[@SVEVelsen]

Then again, in a place like Mexico people tend to live closer to the reality that you're responsible for yourself. People these days are so hyper-entitled and passive... They'll complain about damp, refuse to let in workmen to fix it, then complain about their landlord not fixing it, then refuse to pay rent, then go cry to the media about being evicted over theft / rent arrears.

[@KantoCafe715]

I'll take mould over insects any day 😅

[@notorio526]

​@@KantoCafe715 I used to live in Mexico and I've had scorpions and snakes in my bedroom

[@BloodArtistify]

When this happened to my wife’s grand mother I called the Environmental Agency right after being refused for the 2nd time for any fixes the Following Monday they were out fixing all the issues under threat of legal action.

[@user-ej9qe4me8v]

If my country offends you ? You are FREE to leave at anytime 👍🏻🎄🥂

[@MIA80073]

It’s not offensive, it’s causing health issues. It’s not just her, plenty of British people live in the same conditions as her

[@Anon-lz1qy]

Sure, do you know anything about her backstory apart from what you can see which is she is brown and wears a headscarf? What if she is a refugee from a war your country started? Your comment has no worth if you don’t know anything about Fatima other than what you see in this documentary, which is focussed on her current living condition, not what brought her to this country.

[@sabaharif.1649]

​@@Anon-lz1qyexactly 💯 racists

[@mjh5437]

@@MIA80073 Because there`s plenty of lazy useless British people who choose to scrounge free cash from all the taxpayers from cradle to grave rather than stop whingeing and get a job and buy their own damn house....Victim Culture Blaggers.

[@jenny2tone242]

Pathetic comment 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@mosaid2361]

I’m British but moved to Oman and I can tell you I’m so glad I moved living happy when I was in uk had mould issue every year struggled a lot because I had my kids and killed me watching them cough

[@SVEVelsen]

Good on you. I hope the slaves of the Omanis work really hard to avoid beatings and satisfy every need you may have. 😃 Depending on your religious views there may be significant consequences for you profiting off such a system though.

[@hennadesigns3845]

@@SVEVelsenwhat are you talking about?

[@FHi349]

​​@@hennadesigns3845he is referring to poor people from poor nations forced to work in slavery like work conditions in Oman and rest of the Gulf nations

[@atulnayak5715]

@@SVEVelsen No need to be rude by stereotyping other nations. Are you as common as muck in England?

[@SajSajidmk]

What sort of jobs, business options in Oman? Please Warm weather 🌡️ in Oman ,day light is Best for health

[@harveyking5038]

i dont trust that woman

[@meganstewart9062]

I live in social housing and I know how they feel. My living conditions are similar and at one point it was making my son ill the mould and damp. A dog lives better in the dogs Trust than what I do and its becoming a big problem across the board. Government need to do more.

[@chrislambert9435]

When normal private home owners get Mould on the windows, doors (or just anywhere in their homes) they wash it off with Bleach in hot water, this never fails. Why cant Social Housing Tenants do this ? ?

[@freeopinion2140]

I lived with mold for years and all I did to fix it was goto tesco, buy that expensive yellow mould remover for like £6. you don't even need to wipe it legit just desolves. mind blowing.

[@andrewfulton3435]

Dogs live better in the Dog's Trust because people donate to the Dog's Trust. You however, just rob us.

[@W1LLi4m_]

YOU need to do more, and the government needs to pull out of these abhorrent schemes. Stop whining, stop asking for handouts, get your life together.

[@nameundefinedname5307]

dont be stupid LOL @@chrislambert9435

[@alanaj5]

Privately rented accomodation is in a similar state. I lived in a house where the living room and bathroom were mouldy from floor to ceiling. The landlord painted over it evey year. The government needs to set minimum standards and give tenants the power to insist that landlords address the issues. However, that would mean that social housing would need to be upgraded too. I don't think they want to pay for that so won't change the law. Landlords make so much money off of us and collect a portfolio of properties, preventing us from finding affordable accomodation.

[@Mjbeswick]

A landlord in an apartment next to me was has been complaining about damp, saying that it's ruining her health, but I have exactly the same apartment with no problems. The difference is that I open the windows often. We don't have an extractor fan in the bathroom ether. The real issue is that many older building have been fitted with double glazing without adequate ventilation. The whole idea of insulating older building had cause the problem, as draft exclusion and insulation trap moisture.

[@jamiecurran3544]

@@Mjbeswick yeah but when you live in a cold climate like the UK it's hard to have your window open and keep warm, especially considering the price it costs to heat these substandard properties!😥✌️

[@Solihul886]

Landlords buying more stock would mean less demand between each property, that means cheaper rents. We need less planning red tape and higher building quotas so there more stock for both rentals and living homes

[@victablet3480]

​@@Mjbeswickyes, I ventilate too, its fold but it keeps the mould from getting too bad. It still has mould, but less.

[@victablet3480]

​@@Solihul886and for the housing market to correct. X9 earnings for a house is ludicrous

[@zippehzuppah9046]

''please give me a free better house for no reason''

[@whitediamonds4411]

I’m sorry but 14 years in a place where is making you sick you would think you would move out if something is affecting your health in 14 years you could have buy a house & avoided all these health conditions, correct me if I’m wrong 🤔🤷‍♀️

[@Lifelongloser]

Indeed. But they don’t want to give up their cheap London accommodation.

[@TheDudeman42]

Imagine giving people reduced cost housing and then they protest

[@CyberDunk2077]

The thing about mould is, you can clean it off the walls but the main problem is you are only treating the surface of the problem. Mould roots itself into the plaster and underlying brick work. Unless you take it back to brick and treat the problem properly the mould will always return. Heating is unaffordable and moisture will always cause the mould to grow faster than it would in a warm dry environment. These houses are old and are not very well insulated. Even taking furniture from a house that has a mould problem, and moving it into a new house will ensure the new house will also eventually have a mould problem. Really you should be cleaning as soon as it appears because at least with some effort and a good anti-fungal you can save your family and you from breathing in the worst of it. Letting it grow and complaining about it does not make the problem go away.

[@chrislambert9435]

Stop telling stories, When normal private home owners get Mould on the windows, doors (or just anywhere in their homes) they wash it off with Bleach in hot water, this never fails. Why cant Social Housing Tenants do this ? ?

[@avancalledrupert5130]

Insulation, ventilation, heat and chemical treatment. It takes all 4 to completely solve it but any one or more will help more than staring at it. It's just part of living in a cold damp climate. I'm a drywall and carpentry specialist I deal with it all the time.

[@nameundefinedname5307]

"cleaning as soon as it appears"does not solve the issue

[@nathanphillips1504]

You do realise she is getting everything paid for by the taxpayer. She could rent private

[@mjh5437]

Leaving a window slightly open does@@nameundefinedname5307

[@001tgc]

Until residents are able to bring direct legal action against these associations, or the government brings in legislation that holds the providers directly responsible nothing will change!

[@boop7313]

It's already illegal! The people just expect the government to uphold their own laws. Rightly so.

[@SVEVelsen]

They can, they just choose to act learned-helpless and then go cry to the media about the effects of their own lazyness. Chances are landlord offered to fix it but she refused to let the workmen in.

[@sosammathomas1525]

You do not like movee out.

[@asoulalignedhowgodhealshis6682]

This is heartbreaking! That black mold is so dangerous!

[@mimikhan9546]

We pay council tax. WE DEMAND BETTER.

[@vincentblack7467]

If you are Muslims, you don't pay council tax...

[@West-rn-showvn-ist-chick]

You guys have MASS uncontrolled immigration ffs.. GEE I wonder why you people have a housing crisis.. where’s the common sense?

[@karajo77]

How is it in Fatima's country? Where is she from? Perhaps they could get better housing and medical care there?

[@mattwu7884]

Most mold issue in the house is due to bad air flow and the heater not on during winter. Also it's due to people not clean it with cleaning product. Most mold can be killed by using cleaning product you can buy from super market by just less than £3. All you need to do is spray it and after 10 minutes. It will be all gone and killed. I find people who rent or living in social housing doens't have those common sense. Mostly due to they don't care of the house they live coz it's not theirs so they think everythig should be done by housing association or landlord. Those people act like babies feel like other people need to look after them. They need to learn basic live skills and common sense. Clean your house, turn on the heating and let the air flow.

[@Bringon-dw8dx]

Yup. That mould didn’t grow overnight. Regular cleaning, ventilation, removing sources of damp from the home

[@icilmaa]

Sounds like your the one lacking life shills and common knowledge with that whack comment.

[@icilmaa]

Sounds like your the one lacking life shills and common knowledge with that whack comment.

[@telstar32]

The mould around Fatima’s window is just general cleaning, that will be exasperated by not opening windows or trickle vents. All of those children will also cause mould and damp, as those children are all breathing out warm air all night in a very confined space. I’d also be interested to know how often she opens her windows to allow air flow and how she drys her washing. All homes have to have fresh air flow in order to stop mould and damp.

[@ourlovehowerica]

There's a majority of brits living by the streets in tents. I sympathise with her complaints but if we see the big picture of England right now, its complex.

[@korrin897]

But you can afford to pay someone to spray mould spray?! It's £5 a can online....

[@WolfCounty682]

Or 100 pounds for plumber to fix pipe)

[@victablet3480]

Yes....there was something odd about her. My house where I live is privately rented, and theres mould. I pay 1200 a month, and dont have a cleaner, just deal with it myself, even though I have quite bad back problems. Sometimes you just have to get on with it

[@SajSajidmk]

​@@victablet3480everyone cleans her or his rental house. Leave window 🪟 open for ventilation during day to avoid mold.

[@emmabrooker166]

Do you have soaking wet carpets too?

[@rkbeg80]

Are you even watching the programme? She gets someone every week to clean the mould of windows but the mould comes back. That means there's deep mould in the walls.

[@edli323]

I have mould issues, too. I open the window a little bit, i keep the heat on (not all the time), i have a humidity monitor, and use a dehumidifier if needed, I regularly use bleach to wipe the area with mould, and I have resolve it. Why I take very good care of my house? Yes, because I OWN my house and I don't assume responsibilities to others!

[@risetv1]

bleach does not kill or clean mould. it only bleaches it. vinegar and bicarbonate kill mould.

[@MIA80073]

I’m glad you’ve resolved it but do be aware that although surface mold seems to have been removed, it might just be bleached, and also if you lift up the carpet or wallpaper in the areas affected, the mold might have gotten there too.

[@ranjith1704]

That’s a fact. I clean the windows and doors my self every now and then to keep it dry. I think few people do not care to clean the flat or keep it at optimum level .were they expecting someone to come over and do the bit. I am not sure if that falls on landlord unless it was landlord’s fault or it is a build issue. I don’t see any leakage in the flat as well.

[@luisfreitas886]

Best comment of this section. Most of the people don't do anything by their own initiative to improve the condition. UK is very well known for having high humidity levels. If the tenants of social housing would have the same care as you, they would live in better conditions.

[@evie9239]

taking that amount of steroids back to back is so damaging for your immunity. You basically have none while on it, so you get sick all the time. This poor lady.

[@G-nyc1644]

Am I crazy for thinking this? Why in after 10 years did she not move if conditions were or are that bad? Even if it is to move back to your home Country why stay there if it is so bad? It sounds crazy to me, Move or move back to your home Country. If she knows the house is killing her and she stays there would that be considered Suicide?

[@Anon1370]

because she won't move away from the benefits she gets even if it kills her

[@bradchadley1261]

Deport

[@omi685]

Who, Kevin?

[@harveyking5038]

she needs to exercise and meditate.

[@radeks2834]

If she doesn’t like it, she can always go back to her home country, i guess the country is not so generous and gives homes for free. At least she got a roof on her head so no complaints.

[@ScratchyBaws]

So she's been offered a brand spanking new home with similar stairs to where she is but the new flat won't have the mould problems what so ever but she sits there crying to Allah because she says she's dying due to her circumstances of the mould in her existing flat. She just wants a FREE HOUSE, SIMPLE.

[@sumz1721]

Peabody need to stop ignoring us too. I am gathering evidence to take them to court

[@entityarif8404]

Mold is a serious health issue.

[@mjh5437]

Go live in Africa or Asia or the Middle East then.

[@Bringon-dw8dx]

And yet Fatima doesn’t even bother cleaning it

[@entityarif8404]

@@mjh5437Meanwhile your government keeps allowing immigration. British need to revolt against their government.

[@eattherich9215]

@@Bringon-dw8dx: the report says that the family employs a cleaner, but of course you didn't hear this.

[@Bringon-dw8dx]

@@eattherich9215 yeah… the cleaner cleans. FAITMA and her family can’t be bothered. Cleaners generally don’t clean the walls. In that house they especially don’t, that’s not MAX 4 days of mould

[@Viewer-discretion-is-advised7]

Least she has a home

[@LeeonardodaVinci]

Why she dont clean? Alcohol 90% help. Mold

[@MIA80073]

I think mould spores would have already gotten under the drywall and into pretty much everything. Personally I would’ve at least cleaned the surface mould but that won’t have solved much of the problem

[@LeeonardodaVinci]

@@MIA80073 no. U have to clean mould ones a month 90% alcohol. About 6 month. Then only ones half year.

[@paula622]

The poor woman has severe respiratory problems, maybe she cannot do deep cleaning, she certainly couldn't be breathing in chemical fumes from bleach or mould cleaners

[@LeeonardodaVinci]

@@paula622 mybe u have to read again. 90% alcohol. Not chemical.

[@dottieland7061]

My mum is a landlord but has decided to sell her stock as she is so sick of people not paying rent damaging the property and not following instructions. So she is selling up . They can’t look after anything let alone a pigsty as some landlords put it

[@kathleenholt6008]

Don’t people in the UK use dehumidifiers? Everyone would have mold without them when it’s damp. Housing 101.

[@Bringon-dw8dx]

If they stopped paying a CLEANER?!!!! and either of them got a job they could move

[@RB-vb3mk]

Easier said then done

[@Bringon-dw8dx]

@@RB-vb3mk what do you mean? It’s a tiny flat, they have kids old enough to help out, and there are two adults. Wtf do you mean easier said then done?!

[@rkbeg80]

Wtf?? She has disabilities! Do you know what lupus is as well as COPD?? Judgemental Karen! Her husband is obviously doing all the school runs and housework.

[@geigertec5921]

I lived in an overturned dumpster in a hole in the woods for 3 years while at university, never complained.

[@shamimab83]

Seeing people’s comments about immigration, Fatima’s means of income and questioning her health is really disgusting. You’re making massive judgements on a very brief insight into her and her family’s life. There’s always more to what is shown, people are so judgemental. And she isn’t the only that lives like this, there are MANY cases of injustices in housing, I should know, I experience it too. Housing associations are not upholding their duties to their tenants, especially when it comes to health and safety but are happy to increase rents and service charges with no improvement in service. Don’t judge people’s lives, you don’t really know what it is to walk in their shoes.

[@x_Dude1]

To be honest , al her expenses and her husband is most likely on support. If she is feeling bad 14 years and on *prednison, why looks her youngest like being 5 year old?

[@detritiv0re144]

Those people are just demonstrating a complete lack of intelligence.

[@Nee-vk7zz]

They see a brown person and their instinct is to think that they are lazy and poor and on benefits and always complaining, while somehow stealing their jobs.

[@sabaharif.1649]

​@x_Dude1 her youngest acting like a 5 year has got nothing too do with it his probably got issues we don't no poor kid kid is going through at school and fatima give the woman a break have a heart

[@x_Dude1]

@@sabaharif.1649 Always have a heart - only speak about the things i see. Wish everyone a good place to live. (there is many) (true, kids have nothing to do with it) (people that need such strong medicines can give birth?) (possibly lead to intrauterine growth retardation or an increased risk of premature birth)

[@Chris67688]

I've struggled with damp in the place I own. The struggle to get planning permission to replace the render on a listed building is ridiculous. Took two years!!! The whole system is falling apart

[@Mrblockmonkey]

She really puts the fat in Fatima.

[@user-oe3jd4mo3t]

Fatima claiming benefits in social housing 😂

[@konfyd110]

I don't know man. I'm not gonna watch mould take over my space and just breathe it in. Life is too short. The system is rotten, yes, but my health is priority.

[@kehindeemiabata4032]

isn't stairs better than the damp? Then she could tackle the stair problem.

[@aicha199]

well maybe if you heard she said she can’t go up stairs

[@rkbeg80]

The minute she accepts flat with stairs, she'll be removed from the list

[@frauleintrude6347]

Never in my life have I seen such mould infested walls, biohazard! What’s going on with English houses. Usually airing out helps to keep the house mould free (we call it Stosslueften), but this seems to be a structural problem, leaky pipes, leaky facades. I would sue the landlord.

[@barr96]

Open the windows for some ventilation. Although im sure some folk will be doing to opposite to get other accommodation

[@markrogers6601]

It's a problem in the foundations. I'm guessing your a landlord, right?🙄

[@barr96]

@markrogers6601 no. I own a house which was built pre 1940s so it has solid walls and is prone to damp if not ventilated..... and you?

[@chrislambert9435]

When normal private home owners get Mould on the windows, doors (or just anywhere in their homes) they wash it off with Bleach in hot water, this never fails. Why cant Social Housing Tenants do this ? ?

[@Anon1370]

@@chrislambert9435 they can't be bothered is the answer to that one

[@troygoodacre2718]

I lived in my own house for two years with a damp and condensation problem until I could afford to get it fixed but I couldn’t live with the black mould and just let it grow and spread everywhere I kept it under control

[@rockandblues3635]

buy your own home or move somewhere else, why these people think they entitled , why government should give them public housing

[@MA-rf6sg]

So the husband is employed to take care of her lol taking money of tax payer to stay home with his wife what a mess this country we tax payers are suffering

[@woden3894]

The problem is immigration. The more people you allow into the country, the less houses there are available and the less quality social housing remains, especially when we move all the lawyers and doctors from the third world into it. Fatima who doesn't sound like a native Eastender "was once a hard working dental nurse 14 years ago" but for some reason moved to a moldy housing estate, I assume she got married and then gave up work like many Islamic families. She could be on £30,000 today and her "husband / full time carer" could be bringing in £25,000, the only problem is they would surpass the £50,000 freshold for social housing. Anyway it's a good thing the problem was fixed it didn't seem logical that a carpet would get wet from mold.

[@user-ue6iv2rd1n]

@@nottingham1 Lol you're so wrong houses just need airing by opening a window once in a while. You can't get this is concept through to people.

[@MIA80073]

I don’t get it, if she is living without a husband and let’s say she was working as a dentist, wouldn’t that be better in your opinion because she’s “breaking out of the oppressive backwards” marriage and lifestyle she otherwise would have been living, which is what people with similar opinions would say is the problem.

[@Anon-lz1qy]

Sure, do you know anything about her backstory apart from what you can see which is she is brown and wears a headscarf? What if she is a refugee from a war your country started? Your comment has no worth if you don’t know anything about Fatima other than what you see in this documentary, which is focussed on her current living condition, not what brought her to this country.

[@kaylee458]

​@@Anon-lz1qyand she might not be fleeing war has she passed how many countries to get to UK and don't Muslims have to be married so if they had good jobs they can buy there own house and not take up social housing she complaining about mould when there isn't any it was a leak that she most likely didn't report

[@PBJ2drippy]

As usual, people with privilege always blaming it on immigration. Greedy swine

[@tobyihli9470]

Sue her landlord. Sue the Social Housing Authority.

[@mimikhan9546]

DeHumidifiers are really good as well.

[@Sophie_K90]

oh and you what? you can buy a dehumidifier for each room and run then aaaaall day

[@Anon1370]

@@Sophie_K90 if you get the replaceable ones that don't run by electric yeh you can run em all day

[@urbansurvivor360]

Good on her for standing up ! As we all should !! Compassion thats a thing

[@annaharvey8739]

Well said!

[@JimPlebeian]

Invest in some cillit bang black mould cleaner .. it’s that easy

[@hsjshdhsjshsh958]

A mold problem like the one in Fatima's house doesn't come out of nowhere, it's due to poor building standards. As stated in the video, a leaking pipe was found. The landlord obviously felt that their tenant's rent payments shouldn't be spent on keeping their dwelling livable.

[@sassythesasquatch4425]

go work and buy a house or flat then stop waiting for government to come and save you.

[@isao2952]

Fantastic journalism. Thank you.

[@krisradjpaul278]

Clean the mould paint using anti mould paint and open windows.

[@Dave_jackson1980]

The only person who has health issues here is your Doctor Fatima

[@chrislambert9435]

When normal private home owners get Mould on the windows, doors (or just anywhere in their homes) they wash it off with Bleach in hot water, this never fails. Why cant Social Housing Tenants do this ? ?

[@captainkirk9691]

Because some parts that grow mold arnt accessible to tenants?

[@sp-1973]

Oh sweet Jesus!!.. are you really that naive!! 😂

[@somethingfunny6867]

something to ponder is that social housing tenants often have the house colder. a if its 17 when the heating is on at 50% humidity it condensates at 7. in a low insulation home that can happen overnight if heating is off. add more people = more showers etc.

[@Anon-lz1qy]

I am a private tenant and we have a huge issue with damp which is mainly caused by the crappy windows. We have de-humidifiers in most rooms, however they are quite expensive. We can afford it because we both work and our rent is fairly cheap compared to normal rates which is why we stay here despite the issues with the property. Social housing tenants barely get by with what they get from benefits. They can’t be expected to be able to buy things that can help with a damp/mould issue if the landlord is not willing to spend money on fixing the causes of the issue.

[@j.a.motteux2785]

A little bit of mould on the window is not the same as having deep damp and mould in the walls themselves. Absolute nightmare to sort out and can only be 100% solved by spending thousands stripping and replacing the affected areas.

[@marooned4383]

my next door had water at the bottom of her kitchen for 3 MONTHS , took 3 months and i think she still has some sort of damp and now i got it becouse council sent some cheap contractors that where useless cos the mold and damp are back , these buildings need to be rebuild not to be washed with chamical as some say , if goverment waste time to rebuild then one day is too late and comes the crisis , some say is the cold but i woner norway and iceland have the same problems

[@splottcardiff3993]

So been offered 2 social houses.. Very lucky - most get 1. Refusal means ending duty. Central government needs to invest in more social housing

[@kaylee458]

Some people can't even get one and she complaining

[@MPM_News]

Kudos to the journalists who put this together. Help these people !!!!

[@capri2673]

If they went back to their own country instead of sponging of us, the problem would be solved.

[@jayreyndogz1791]

How about make a documentary on the 1000s we have homeless in this country hopeless people with no help or support whatsoever

[@KEYUNTISER]

She's lucky to have a home that she's paying a tiny rent for. There are veterans homeless and sleeping on the streets in minus temperatures. Stop complaining.

[@roops2939]

Britain describes itself as a rich country. Sad.

[@Ardwick-Crome]

That mould is 100% the result of poor ventilation and bad practice, such as drying wet clothes on radiators. Nothing to do with structural damp. It's solely down the the tenants.

[@renethompson32]

She should definitely get in contact with a solicitors. I work in a housing disrepair firm and the conditions some people live in are inhabitable, it’s disgusting and upsetting.

[@markwright2960]

A disrepair COMPANY ANOTHER SCAM!!!!

[@zr9145]

I've just done this. Ended up in a worse position!

[@brickie59]

At least this country is giving housing to these people from other countries. Our ex forces veterans that have no roof would love to be sheltered

[@IlyasToriyama]

Lets keep voting conservative I am sure they'll eventually fix all these problems

[@jannat-ulferdous9791]

living in hostel for 7 years with 2 kids, effecting mentally physically emotionally Birmingham city council is not doing anything 😢

[@bonnieo910]

Many many people are having to live like this, including babies.

[@fmt0htm]

I can see all accommodations are lack of ventilation or windows that are big enough to let fresh air breeze into the room. Any building / accommodation standards law in the UK ? This kind of documentaries always make me wonder.

[@JDR97X]

So glad I work hard for a living, own, and clean my own home to avoid mould 😊.

[@-_-11k52]

Well done Fatima and all others who stood with you ❤

[@dc56789]

I can't even get a mouldy flat.

[@kayoarawo6116]

Beggars cannot be choosers.😮 I'm sure you'll be more prepped than these entitled people with attitude when no one gets nought in underdeveloped states.

[@beewa8840]

This reminded me to get the interior dehumidifiers out of the cupboard. For a while I have forgot to replace the one in the bathroom. I am going to get more (Tesco £1 keep it handy and others from pound shop) and put them in every room, just in case.

[@mjh5437]

Easier and cheaper to keep a window slightly open.

[@catlee8064]

Mould spray.....£2 atthe shop....I know you shouldnt have to, but its your damn health....

[@mjh5437]

Maybe they should just get on a rubber dinghy over to France and claim they`re fleeing persecution by damp and feel their lives are under threat from the mould in England.

[@fishgodeep204]

Go back to your counrty then 😂😂

[@aHarzoo]

Terrible that anyone has to live with mould let alone that much. A small or medium dehumidifier per bedroom is a must during colder months and i didnt see one here.

[@yara438]

I paid close to 1700 a month for a flat in camden when i went to study in the UK, i had leaks and mold growing due to the lady that lives ontop of my flat, everytime i reported the issue to the company and the agency responsible and they would always gaslight me everytime i report it, making me seem like im blowing it out proportion. Even though one time in the middle of the night water started to pour in ontop of my bed (mind you it was an extremely small studio) after they reportdly "fixed the issue" a couple of weeks back, their reply was we cant stop her from using the shower ( she would take long showers).

[@eattherich9215]

Slumlords blame everybody but themselves.

[@roops2939]

Shame that you chose the UK to come and study in. You were not told about the rip off rents, shoddy Victorian housing, rip off fares, overcrowding, poverty, high crime rates, unreliable railway infrastructure, poor state of the road infrastructure, no health care, high cost of living, high energy bill. If you were then you would not have suffered like you did

[@roops2939]

Please let your friends and acquaintances know about what the UK is really like and warn them.

[@Qlair2632]

Shouldn’t be in the country in the first place if they can’t support themselves?

[@LeeonardodaVinci]

Mybe cleaning help. 90% alcohol

[@A_5678]

Does that apply to the English as well.

[@mamandmason7094]

No damp was found. 2 properties were offered and turned down . Is it really that bad 😮?

[@kenny9168]

I come from a country where you get nothing from govt. People once 18 start working and live on their own. Why dependent on govt when you are in control of your life. Rule of life: Don’t pity yourself Problem in UK is the asylum seeker get more benefits and priority then citizens. People want free house with no rent and no bills. More than 70% on benefits are from same religion.

[@victablet3480]

To me Fatimas house looked less mouldy than mine, for which I pay large amounts of rent ( its nothing fancy its just prices are insane). Clearly the msin issue was the bathroom leak, but lets remember for every person getting free housing free, theres another person working and paying into the system to support and provide that. Nothing is free. Me and my husband dont earn much but we get by best we can. The current economic system is broken because i as a teacher am paying out over half my salary on rent, then the rest goes on heating, council tax ( a lot of which is allocated to social care), and food.

[@emmabrooker166]

Social housing is not free!

[@justinrowe3346]

How come this mainly happens to people who rent?!?? Tell me that

[@dorothajordan]

Great reporting. Keep going

[@MrStarsuicide]

We have building codes in my country . 🇺🇸 by law, mold MUST be cleaned up by landlords.

[@roops2939]

The US has a government

[@Dan-ln4kn]

Im sorry for the people. We have the same problem in Sweden. People don’t work, live on welfare but demands the best apartments for free.. It’s impossible. The UK and Sweden must learn not to accept more migrants than there are houses. If people work and buy their own house (become their own landlords) the problem is solved. People expect society to solve their problems. That is naive.

[@rwentfordable]

I'm a Brit and I agree with you. European society is being stretched to the limit witu mass immigration from different cultures.

[@Anon1370]

people with mould should tackle it themselves staring at it and pointing isn't going to get rid of the mould. If you have a house for free nobody is entitled to complain

[@jenny2tone242]

​@@Anon1370It's not for free you dingbat, they pay rent

[@icilmaa]

This is down to greed my friend. Councils here purposely leave properties in disrepair so that they can sell the land to private developers Has nothing to do with immigration but a corrupt system.

[@emmabrooker166]

Social housing is not free!

[@Mr_blue_7777]

They said they couldn't find any damp or mold just a leaking pipe... Last time I checked a leaking pipe would cause damp if not water damage and mold can actually grow under the carpets inside the walls just because you can't see it doesn't mean it is not there.... The only way to be certain is to do air quality check and i highly doubt they did that

[@toffeelatte6042]

Fatima is a queen, well done! And the worst part is, they offered her housing they knew was unsuitable because if she turns it down, she goes even lower in the queue to be rehoused. Surprised she hasn't gone for compo, she'd get a killing but then again, they know by offering her alternative housing, they make the defence that she could have moved but she turned it down. It's snake behaviour.

[@realgrilledsushi]

She could you know, move back to Bangladesh?

[@omi685]

After caring for your old geezers for decades 😂

[@realgrilledsushi]

@@omi685 She should move back to Bangladesh. It would be good for her health. The weather there would do wonders. You can take care of the geezers in her place.

[@beyourselfbrave4115]

Fatima dear , go to work, earn some money, pay taxes, buy yourself a Home and then protest!