'My four-year-old is terrified of it' - Edinburgh mum's ongoing battle with council over mould in son's bedroom

A mother-of-two said she is "at wits end" after suffering with an ongoing mould problem at her council home in the Capital.

The 27-year-old, who wishes to remain anonymous, lives in the Muirhouse area of Edinburgh with her four-year-old son and six-month-old baby boy.

She said the mould conditions in the children's bedroom has reached “catastrophic" levels to the point where her son is too scared to sleep in his own room.

"I’m honestly at wits end and I can’t live like this anymore,” she said.

Mould pictured in the bedroom of the Edinburgh resident's four-year-old son picture: supplied

"My four-year-old is terrified of it, he thinks it’s a big black monster above his bed in the night so he and my six-month old are in my room with me.

"It’s reaching breaking point and the response I have had from the council has been robotic.

"I have had issues with mould here for more than a year but it's been a lot worse in the last six months.”

The Edinburgh resident said she hoped the delays in response to her mould concerns were down to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The boy is too afraid to sleep in his room because he thinks the mould is 'a big black monster' picture: supplied

But during her last encounter with a member of the council she explained that she was told to “redocorate and hope for the best.”

"I have tried to paint over and wallpaper my son’s bedroom three times but the mould keeps coming through.

"He can’t sleep in there, it’s not good for his health.

"He already had breathing issues as a baby so I don't want to risk it. But I also don’t want him to be reliant on being with me every night because he’s at that age where he needs to learn to be more independent.

The mother-of-two said the mould has been a problem for over a year, but the issue has escalated in the last six months picture: supplied

"I have been told various things from the council, one being that it was 'down to my lifestyle’ as to why it is in the condition that it is.

"But it can’t be as the rest of the house is fine, it’s just his bedroom, and there’s a small bit in the bathroom but it’s a more ‘normal’ amount.

"I just thought that comment was appalling and laughable and just showed such a lack of compassion.”

The young mum said she is hoping to move council house but has been told her case "is not a priority.”

"It’s so difficult when I have had officials come round, look at the mould which is just disgusting, and still not treat our situation as important.

"I have two little boys and look at the state of their room.”

Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West Christine Jardine said: “We cannot expect families to be living in circumstances such as this.

"I hope the council is able to get something done and done quickly for this family, particularly with this cold weather we are experiencing at the moment.

"Most of us are not going outside often so it’s more important than ever to make sure people, especially those with children, are looked after for their mental and physical wellbeing.”

An Edinburgh City Council spokeswoman said: “We have identified the need to carry out repairs in the property though unfortunately, due to Covid-19 restrictions, haven’t been able to complete this work.”

She added: “We are working with the tenant to find suitable temporary accommodation for her family so we can carry out all the required repairs safely.”

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