I’m a council tenant & I’m so ashamed of my damp flat with mushrooms on wall I won’t let my mum round – no one’s helping

A WOMAN is so ashamed of the state of her housing association flat she won't even have her mum round for tea.

Alisha Sweeney says the damp conditions at her run-down bedsit are so "diabolical" there are even mushrooms growing out of the walls.

The 23-year-old moved into the block in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, almost two years ago and there have been "huge problems" ever since.

Alisha claims she has been battling damp and mould on a daily basis and has even been left without heating for months on end.

Things have become so bad she is now forced to wear several coats and wrap herself in a duvet just to stay warm as her blow heater is simply not enough - and she won't let any guests through the front door.

Council tenant Alisha, who lives alone, said: "It is diabolical. I feel like I am impoverished.

"I don't have anyone in my house - no family, friends, no-one.

"I can't remember the last time I had my mum round, I am just so ashamed of where I live because of how disgusting it is.

"I often sit with my neighbour during the day because I don't want to be at home, but there's nowhere else for me to go.

"And I have to wear extra jumpers and wrap myself in duvets because it's just that cold."

On top of the damp, Alisha is also dealing with dark splodges and other growth in every part of the Home Group-run flat in Pynefield House.

"There are mushrooms growing on the walls and mould growing on my freezer. It's disgusting," she said.

"I can't breathe when I'm in there, but I don't know what to do."

Alisha says she has complained to her housing provider and to the council, but both have done next to nothing to help.

Instead, they blamed the condensation on her "breathing too much" and told her to try running some dehumidifiers.

Alisha has had several on "all day every day" for months, which has made only a tiny difference and pushed her electricity bill up to £1,200 a year.

"That's so much for a tiny bedsit," she said.

'DIABOLICAL'

Home Group admitted it had been slow to act and confirmed the issues were being looked into as a matter of priority.

Executive director of operations Matt Forrest added: "We were alerted to issues with their property and while we’ve resolved some there is still more we need to do.

"We haven’t acted quickly enough, and that is simply not good enough.

"Our priority is to get all issues resolved with immediate effect.

"We met with our customer [on March 17] and they are happy with the proposed outcome.

"We have agreed to do the rest of the work just after Easter and while that goes on we’ll accommodate our customer in a hotel.

"I know this hasn’t been a good experience at all for them, and it is disappointing for us as we set ourselves high standards.

"We have let them down and I sincerely apologise."