Family's despair over damp flat

A YOUNG family living in a Lewes District Council flat with damp have been promised action to remedy the problem.

Simon and Victoria Vincent, of Stansfield Road on the Landport Estate, have lived with their 18-month-old daughter, Lauren, in their council flat for year. They noticed they had a damp problem soon after moving in.

The family repeatedly asked Lewes District Council to sort out the problem.

Simon, 21, said: 'We have had an independent surveyor and a man from the council come round to our flat and they have both said that we have a problem with damp. We were told that on August 6 someone would be coming round to put a dehumidifier into the flat. Well, August 6 came and went and we didn't see any sign of them. We didn't even get a letter or phone call to apologise.'

Simon contacted the Sussex Express to highlight their problem. He said: 'I felt this would be the only way the council would sit up and take notice of our situation.'

Within two months of living in the flat Lauren had developed a very chesty cough, when Victoria, 28, took her to the doctors they said she had asthma.

Simon said: 'Although we know Lauren could have asthma because her mum has it and it can be passed down, we thought it was a bit of a coincidence that she developed it only a few months after moving into the flat. We think it was brought on by the damp.'

When the family moved into the one bedroom flat they immediately put themselves back onto the housing list because according to council policies once a child reaches 12 months they are entitled to their own room.

Now Lauren is 18 months and Simon and Victoria have to sleep in the living room so their daughter can have a room of her own.

Before moving to the flat, the family were provided with accommodation by the council at Meridian Lodge in Peacehaven, a temporary B&B. Simon at the time was a food retail supervisor on the verge of management at Iceland in Burgess Hill. He had to start there at 7am in the morning. However the first bus out of Peacehaven wasn't until 7am and he ended up leaving his job.

Simon said: 'I was told by my housing officer that even if we had dehumidifiers in the flat, the damp problem still wouldn't be sorted.'

A council spokesperson said: 'A company called Ferrob sub-contracted out to another company to provide the dehumidifier. We can't check to find out why they didn't turn up because the person to speak to is on holiday. A senior maintenance officer went round to see the flat today (August 23) and from the inspection has said the problem is condensation.

'I have been told that within three weeks the spores which are causing the mould as a result of the condensation will be treated and the area redecorated. It has also been arranged for a representative from Ferrob to look at the flat on September 2 and put extractor fans in.'

She added: 'As for the child not having her own room, council policy is to find a house suitable for the family, but only if there is one available.'