Black mould growing on a wall in the rented home of Jade Symonds, a mother in Ashford, Surrey. This self-created conundrum has bedeviled her for over six years. Symonds, who shares custody of her five-year-old daughter, is frustrated, disheartened, and weary due to the worsening and unsafe conditions in their home that have left her feeling imprisoned. This persistent mould issue has impacted not just their living space but taken a toll on Symonds’ finances and mental wellbeing.
To live and work on the farm, Symonds now rents the refurbished property for £1,350 per month, which is partly paid by housing benefit. However, she continues to wrestle with the challenges of escalating costs related to the mould, including electric bills that hover around £300 per month. Her environmental health officer has recommended she keep the heating on to combat the mould. This choice is making her utility bills even higher.
“This is a situation that has left me mentally drained,” Symonds stated. This relentless mould has ruined her clothes, furniture, and bedding, making her spend hundreds of dollars on replacements. She’s discouraged, both by the financial burden and emotional toll of the chronic mold situation.
For five long years, the 40-year-old has languished on his Council’s housing register. Because of her current housing situation, she is stuck in a low priority band. This undocumented status further complicates her search for other housing options. As a consequence, she really does feel stuck in a home that is dangerous to her and her daughter’s health.
“I feel like we are stuck in this mould-ridden flat that we cannot afford to leave,” she said. Symonds is still looking for some answers, as a path forward to resolve the mould problem. They’re contending with the increased cost of emergency response and apparent health effects of their residents’ long-term exposure to this environment.
The situation highlights broader concerns regarding tenants’ rights and housing standards, as many renters face similar challenges across the country. Symonds doesn’t wait for change to come to her, she fights for the world she dreams of for her daughter and herself. Her goal is to share with America the plight of families who live in substandard housing.
