A man says his council flat is so mould-ridden it left a relative hospitalised with a lung infection. <br /><br />Brandon Handleigh, 19, claims he's been living in "atrocious" conditions since he moved into his partner's grandparent's flat in November 2022.<br /><br />His partner and grandparents have lived in the flat for 15 years, but issues began around three years ago.<br /><br />They noticed moisture on the walls and floor after a kitchen drimaster - a device to reduce humidity - was replaced.<br /><br />The problems persisted until Swansea Council intervened in March 2023 when they stripped the walls.<br /><br />But Brandon says their attempts were unsuccessful with the replastered clumps of plaster sliding off the wall.<br /><br />Just weeks later, conditions worsened and Brandon said he woke up feeling like he was "walking through a puddle". <br /><br />Black mould has since engulfed his and his partner's room - covering their desk, bed and draws before spreading to the rest of the flat.<br /><br />Brandon says he struggles with his anxiety and is "constantly worried" about his health.<br /><br />His partner's grandad has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma and he says he was been hospitalised after the black mould spores brought on a lung infection.<br /><br />Throughout their ordeal, the family say they have had several different inspections from Swansea Council, but Brandon says more needs to be done. <br /><br />Brandon, currently unemployed, from Swansea, Wales, said: "It's really distressing, I have health anxiety and I'm constantly worrying about what the mould is going to do to me.<br /><br />"It smells like rotting food, dusty, rotting food.<br /><br />"It's always so hot in the bedroom as well.<br /><br />"Our clothes have been destroyed as the inside of a chest of draws was covered with mould on the inside.<br /><br />"The quality of life living here is atrocious, I haven't got words, to be honest.<br /><br />"That's just my bedroom.<br /><br />"It's in the kitchen, the plaster on the ceiling is falling down and is mouldy.<br /><br />"It's in the lounge - all over the walls.<br /><br />"My partner's grandparent's room isn't as bad as our room but the wallpaper is falling, mould is growing in the draws, all over the ceiling.<br /><br />"We've reported this all to the council."<br /><br />The flat also has a stream running underneath it and Brandon believes that could be contributing to their issues.<br /><br />He said: "We have a spring running through the estate down underneath our house and I think something is allowing all the water to come up through the floor and out the walls.<br /><br />"That started three or four years ago as well.<br /><br />"You can feel the air is wet, I get water droplets walking around my bedroom."<br /><br />Brandon says a dehumidifier was broken from the excess moisture.<br /><br />Desperate to fix their crumbling flat, Brandon says they have had several inspections of the flat "without progress". <br /><br />He said: "Since March 2023, we've had inspections.<br /><br />"They always say they're going to take it back to office and assess.<br /><br />"When we chase them up they just tell us they're still assessing it.<br /><br />"In the past two years, we've had multiple inspections.<br /><br />"The workman that came out in March 2023 - when they tried to replaster the walls - said it would all come back and get worse."<br /><br />After a recent inspection of the flat August 16, the family say they were told they were generating too much heat but claim they never have the heating on.<br /><br />A spokesperson for Swansea Council said: "Our Housing Team has been working hard to respond to issues raised by the tenant in relation to various issues at the property. <br /><br />"This has included carrying out a number of repairs throughout 2023 and this year, including the installation of a dehumidifier to assist with condensation.<br /><br />"Following the installation of equipment to deal with condensation, our inspectors made further arrangements with the tenant in January 2024 to visit and inspect the property. <br /><br />"Unfortunately, the tenant was not home for the planned visit, so an inspection was not possible. <br /><br />"We always advise tenants about the importance of being available for planned visits so improvements and repairs can be planned.<br /><br />"Further inspections in July this year have identified additional repairs to help rectify any further issues with damp and mould. <br /><br />"This includes replacing ceilings and painting of interior walls.<br /><br />"Swansea Council has made a commitment of investing £55 million into its current housing stock to ensure properties meet national housing standards. <br /><br />"A further £200m is planned for investment over the next four years."
