My mouldy home hell
5:01am Monday 7th May 2007 in Latest News By Hannah Crown
Mrs Mina and her son Mark are unhappy with Ascham Homes
An ill and elderly woman is considering legal action against her council because of years of "bodged" jobs in her damp-ridden property.
Margaret Mina, 72, of Ascham End in Walthamstow, east London, says she has been reporting a catalogue of major structural problems - which include damp, a collapsing ceiling, live wires and dangerous plumbing - for the past eight years.
Mrs Mina is recovering from a heart attack which she suffered four weeks ago, and is also a sufferer of diabetes, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a lung condition which means she has difficulty breathing.
Mrs Mina, who moved to the Ascham-homes managed property with her family in 1957, now sleeps on a downstairs sofa because she has problems getting around.
She is hoping for handrails to be put in in the bathroom, but contractors have told her these cannot be done until the underlying structural repairs are tackled.
Meanwhile, in the bathroom, there is a hole in the roof, vivid green mould on the wall, and the walls have no plaster.
Her son, Mark Mina, who moved in to care for his mother full time last October, says he raised the issue of the state of the house with Ascham homes on moving in.
He said he had spoken to his solicitor who had advised him to get photographic evidence.
Describing much of the work as "bodged", he estimates that they had had above 25 visits from surveyors about different problems.
He said: "I am disgusted with how they treat elderly residents who are ill.
"Social services cannot put in equipment until the repairs are done. I am so stressed, spending money that we haven't got on telephone conversations which aren't getting anywhere."
He said Ascham Homes contractors effected roof repairs in February.
An Ascham Homes spokesman said the company would like to apologise to Mrs Mina for delays in repairing her home.
He said: "We were notified of a number of works that were required at this property in October last year and contractors have carried out some works including some of the electrical work.
"We have contacted the tenant and informed her that the other work has already been commissioned, and will be completed later this month.
"This includes jobs such as plastering, and replacing her kitchen door."
A meeting was scheduled for yesterday afternoon between Mrs Mina and an Ascham homes representative to discuss what could be done.
