Jessica Coughlan, who became homeless last year, says the mould is affecting her children’s health

A PREGNANT mother-of-three has said she is “scared” to bring her newborn baby back into her temporary accommodation flat riddled with damp and black mould.

Jessica Coughlan, who became homeless last year, has spent the past four months in temporary accommodation. Having originally been moved to Chingford, Islington Council then transferred her to a property in Haringey last month while she awaits a permanent home, but she says her and her children are now suffering from the damp and mould.

“After just two weeks, I started to see it,” Ms Coughlan told the Tribune. “I called the agency, but they said ‘we didn’t place you here, it’s not in our control’. They keep saying it’s ‘lifestyle’ condensation, all you need to do is open the windows, but it’s not. I have an asthmatic daughter, I know what to do, I’m not a child.”

She added: “I get upset, because they try to deny something that is visible. The wall is wet to the touch, there are ants in the kitchen. My daughter has been treated in the hospital, I’ve had to start the inhaler again.”

Ms Coughlan is expecting her fourth child in June, and says she fears the impact of the living conditions on the new baby’s health.

Mould in Ms Coughlan’s flat

“I have depression, I need to go back to my tablets. I cannot sleep, I cannot eat, I feel all the pressure, I’ll collapse,” she said.

Ms Coughlan added: “I have disabled kids, I’m not OK myself with health conditions, and I’m by myself. I am really scared about having the newborn baby in that flat. I have letters from the GP saying that my four-year-old shouldn’t be living here because it’s not good for her.”

There are currently 1,900 people in temp­orary accommodation in Islington, and the Town Hall shells out millions of pounds for this type of housing every year. This is because landlords can charge rent above the market rate for accommodation that was originally meant for use only in emergency situations and for a very short time frame.

The average wait time for families in TA in Islington is 10 months, much lower than in neighbouring boroughs, but housing campaigners have still raised questions over whether it is right that private providers are raking in huge profits off the housing crisis.

In Ms Coughlan’s case, she said her rent was about £2,000 a month.

Councillor John Woolf, the Town Hall’s housing chief, said: “We are determined to make Islington a more equal place where everyone has access to a safe, secure, and affordable place to call home.

“We take every case of damp and mould extremely seriously. Colleagues at Haringey Council’s environmental health team have inspected the property, and have provided a report which states that they are satisfied with its condition.

“There were some issues identified, which the managing agents have been asked to address as swiftly as possible.

“Placing families in temporary accommodation is not our preference, but it is the reality of the housing crisis that has been brought about by years of underinvestment in affordable housing. We’re working tirelessly to address this and to create more affordable homes across the borough.”