A WOMAN claims she has been left with severe health problems after excessive amounts of toxic mould have been growing in her flat.
Gemma Wakefield, 24, said she was excited to move into her first home last year after being homeless for eight months.
Miss Wakefield, who lives on The Grove in Kempsey, said she had worked very hard to find somewhere to live and start her own dog grooming business.
But over the past year, she has felt unsafe in her own home and claims Rooftop Housing Group has refused to remove the black mould growing in her house -leaving her feeling 'helpless.'
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However, Rooftop Housing says the new build flat has the highest energy rating and Miss Wakefield needs to keep it ventilated.
Miss Wakefield, who works as a dog groomer, said she is trying to get her business off the ground but has struggled as she has been ill.
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The owner of Furry Fades Dog said: "I've had to go to the doctor because my asthma is now considerably worse.
"I've had to miss work because of being ill due to the mould.
"I have my windows open as much as I can and there is severe damp mould in every room.
"Rooftop has said it is not in their hands anymore.
"I dread to think about how long this will take to get sorted.
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"I keep my windows open even though it is cold and it's only going to get even colder and colder.
"I feel helpless and I am very worried about my health.
"It is not safe for me to currently live there and that is shocking.
"I am paying rent to live somewhere that is not actually safe.
"I'm a dog groomer and I'm still trying to get that off the ground.
"But I have to take time off work for hospital appointments and in a cost of living crisis that is really tough.
"I'm just trying to go down any avenue. I had four housing officers come down and they were in the flats for a couple of minutes and I expressed my concerns and they just told me to keep the windows open.
"This is my first home and I was homeless before I got this home.
"I had to wait eight months for it and I've had to work very hard to get it."
"They have basically refused to fix it."
Lisa Nicholls, who is the executive director of operations at Rooftop Housing Group, said: "Miss Wakefield lives in a newly built home that has an Energy performance rating of band A.
"This rating means it is highly efficient, very well insulated and airtight and therefore ventilation fans must not be turned off.
"If these fans are not used condensation can form and cause black mould to build up.
"We always advise our customers to wipe surfaces where any condensation may build up, ensure that fans are working, and to ventilate during cooking and bathing to reduce the chance of mould.
"We have no reason to believe that there are mould build-ups in any of the other apartments built to the exact design specification on this development.
"This particular home was let appropriately as a one-bedroom property with maximum occupancy of two, our local Neighbourhood Housing Officer will visit to confirm occupancy and assist with advice on ventilation."
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