Tenant: Mouldy Redbridge Council flat 'making me ill'

Daniel Anang claimed his kitchen and bathroom sinks “regurgitate” dirty water, regularly flooding his home.  

“It stinks,” he said. “The water’s really stinky and it’s making me sick.” 

He said council workers had repeatedly told him that his property was not fit for human habitation. 

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Correspondence seen by the Recorder shows that a year ago, a council “tenancy sustainment officer” referred Daniel for assistance, owing to the “disrepair issues” in his flat. 

But in August 2022, the council told him that it had “no duty” to rehouse him as his current home “provides you with all the necessary facilities for you to live comfortably”. 

Since being contacted by the Recorder, Redbridge Council has said it will address Daniel’s situation as a matter of urgency. 

Daniel said his bathroom was so damp that tiles and plaster were falling away from the walls (Image: Charles Thomson)

“Disgraceful” 

The Recorder was contacted by Daniel’s mother, who said she was at her wit’s end. 

Daniel, 44, has been diagnosed with PTSD after a car accident, as well as depression and schizotypal disorder. 

As such, his mother deals with the council on his behalf. 

“It’s got worse and worse,” she said of the flat, in Empress Avenue, Wanstead. 

“Not even a rat should live in this. It’s disgraceful. I go to the council and they don’t do anything. They are taking his rent but not fixing anything.  

“You need to go in there and take pictures. It needs to go in the paper. You will see the disgusting state of the flat. It beggars belief.” 

Daniel's bathroom ceiling is covered in mould. He said water leaked in regularly from an unknown source somewhere above his property (Image: Charles Thomson)

Mould 

Daniel’s bathroom is covered in black mould from floor to ceiling. 

He said water sometimes leaks in through the ceiling and at other times rises up out of his sinks. 

When that happens, he said, he has to rush to bail them out using whatever is at hand – a dustpan or a hard hat – and try to dump the water into the toilet before it can flood his home again. 

This has been happening for several years, he alleged. 

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“It’s crazy,” he said. “It’s not just a leak. It keeps regurgitating through my sink and it floods my kitchen. It’s making me depressed.” 

Daniel said water periodically rose up from his bathroom and kitchen sinks, flooding his property (Image: Charles Thomson)

The last flood was a few weeks ago, he said.  

Daniel showed the Recorder doctors notes, deeming him unfit for work due to depression for the past six months.  

He also suffers from anxiety. 

“Making me ill” 

“This house is making me ill,” he said. “It’s like my attention is always on it. It’s making my breathing bad.” 

It wasn’t always like this, he said. He has lived in this property for around 15 years, but claimed the plumbing problems only started a couple of years ago. 

In addition to his bathroom, there is mould around his bedroom window.  

Daniel said he has to keep his windows open due to the smell and because he is worried about what he is breathing in. Mould can be seen here all around this window (Image: Charles Thomson)

Concerned about what he is breathing in, he keeps his windows open all day and night – also necessary to ventilate the smell caused by the dirty water and the damp. 

But that in turn means that during the cold winter months he has to have his heating on almost constantly.  

Overall, he said, he feels “really sad”.  

“I just want to get out of here,” said Daniel.  

“I saw him at Christmas and he is just not the same boy,” his mother said. “He is deteriorating, health-wise. He’s a strong boy and he’s trying to hold it together. But he’s depressed.” 

The mould in Daniel's bathroom runs from floor to ceiling (Image: Charles Thomson)

The council 

Redbridge Council said it was prioritising Daniel’s case.  

“The welfare of our council tenants is of vital importance and we strive to maintain all accommodation to a high standard,” a spokesperson said.  

“In this case, a survey has been organised to determine the condition of the property. Once this is completed, we will then begin repair work. 

“All necessary repair work will be prioritised and any potential disruption minimised. 

“We appreciate this is a stressful time for the resident and we are working with him to ensure he is fully supported throughout.”