For 22-year-old book lover Caitlin Brady, her bedroom in her family’s home, adorned with shelves brimming with books, plush toys, and comics, should be a place of refuge.

However, it instead serves as a constant reminder of the relentless mould that has plagued her and her family for the last five years.

“My pillow would always be damp from droplets leaking down from the ceiling. I had to switch sides of the bed because it kept waking me up,” Caitlin shared with the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

While summer offered some relief, the onset of another winter brings renewed concerns about health and the damage to their belongings, as a permanent solution remains elusive.

Caitlin and her mother, Lorraine McGrath, reside in a house on Roffey Close in Purley, which is owned by Croydon Council.

Lorraine expressed her worries about the long-term impact of the mould on her family’s respiratory health, especially for Caitlin, who suffers from asthma.

Caitlin humorously remarked, “I like to breathe every so often.”

Because her bedroom features an exterior wall, Caitlin is particularly affected by the mould situation.

Her walls frequently leak water, and her belongings have developed a mottled dark green coating.

“I discovered mould on my granddad’s belongings; he passed away just last year. I managed to wipe it off, but seeing that made me furious.

“When I take selfies, I zoom in to avoid showing the mould. It’s absurd, but if you don’t find humor in it, you’ll end up in tears.”

Lorraine lamented that the council has not provided a lasting fix for the mould problem.

“They clean it, but it reappears within a month or two, and winter makes it even worse.”

She mentioned that the family has purchased multiple dehumidifiers since they fill up so quickly.

The council first responded to Lorraine’s mould complaint in 2023, and since then, more than ten workers have visited to perform temporary mould cleans.

They installed extractor fans in March, but Lorraine stated their impact has been minimal.

Additional issues at the property include inconsistent water supply, leaks, and drafty gaps around the windows, which the family has had to block with tissue.

Lorraine feels that the council has not adequately communicated with her regarding the situation, and the delays in addressing the root causes of the mould have become “quite ridiculous.”

“You shouldn’t feel excited about the possibility of yet another mould cleaning; it’s not normal,” she added.

Croydon Council has acknowledged the difficulties and stated that the complaints regarding mould were handled according to their damp and mould policy, with repairs and cleans performed in 2023 and 2024.

Council representatives are scheduled to visit the home next month to evaluate whether the extractor fans have had any positive effect.

“We have established a specialized team to tackle these issues and have implemented a new housing management system to enhance customer and repair information,” the council reported.

“In collaboration with specialist contractors, we are making progress on damp and mould remedial tasks to resolve these issues more effectively.”