Christina Stafford finding shelter and sanctuary in rented supported accommodation in Sidmouth. She still hasn’t been able to move back home since April due to continual mould and rodent infestations. The property, managed by East Devon Council (EDDC), has seen multiple interventions from contractors, yet issues remain unresolved, drastically affecting Stafford’s mental and physical health.
Stafford has documented the issues in her home. She has been the chronicler of those decaying conditions, taking photos of the walls with mold that have started coming through, despite her scrubbing and painting them just days earlier. Then, she pointed out her hornets’ nest in her yard, which she said a subcontractor came twice to check out and found nothing. “It’s wearing on my mental and physical health,” Stafford stated, reflecting on the toll the situation has taken on her well-being.
Stafford, who hasn’t been able to live in her home for six months, calls the ordeal a growing nightmare. While the problems have been noted by the EDDC and Stafford has received temporary housing while restoration continues. The council claim that they have carried out substantial repairs on her home. These entail re-plastering, replacing the entire bathroom and section of the kitchen, and repairing roof-related damages.
An EDDC spokesperson remarked on the ongoing efforts to address the problems:
“In this case, we have undertaken significant works, including re-plastering, a full bathroom replacement, a partial kitchen replacement with new flooring, and remedial works to the roof. Additional works to replace the soffits and gutters are also scheduled as part of our planned maintenance programme.”
Despite these efforts, Stafford’s concerns persist. Most challenging of all, she pointed out recently, after repeated treatments, mould is starting to return on walls they were told had been remediated. This has created a lot of anxiety for her over not knowing when she can return home for good.
The EDDC has been clear about its desire to help Stafford every step of the way. As she waits for a resolution, the physical toll of living in such conditions has taken a serious toll on her health.
