A mum living on a council estate has swapped bedrooms with her two-year-old-daughter because she fears damp and mould could damage the toddler's health.

Raphaela Lim, who lives in Hillcrest Estate, off North Hill, Highgate, says she and her partner resorted to sleeping in what was previously her daughter’s room after Haringey Council’s housing service failed to deal with the damp – despite being told about the problem years earlier.

It comes as the council is investigated by the Housing Ombudsman for “persistent poor performance over damp and mould complaints”. The authority has now apologised and pledged to fix the problems within weeks.

When Raphaela moved into the flat with her partner in 2017, she said there was no evidence of damp.

But around a year later, a tiny patch appeared and started getting larger, and wet patches then started developing across all of the outer walls of the flat.

She first reported it to the housing service – then outsourced to council-owned company Homes for Haringey – in December 2019.

At that point, it was a “small leak” but now all of the rooms are affected by damp and mould and one wall is “completely damp” causing paint and plaster to flake off.

Raphaela said she had contacted the council many times to get the problem dealt with but felt she had “mostly been ignored”.

Ham & High: Raphaela said: ‘One room in particular is really bad – the whole wall is completely wet’Raphaela said: ‘One room in particular is really bad – the whole wall is completely wet’ (Image: Raphaela Lim)

“One room in particular is really bad,” she explained. “The whole wall is completely wet, and we keep the window open so we can keep the mould under control – which is not ideal from a heating or energy conservation point of view.

“Essentially, it is impossible to get through to them [the council] and get any kind of response. I’ve been told the contractors are lined up to do the repair, but no-one has got in touch with me.”

Raphaela said a surveyor had confirmed that the building needed repointing – a process of chipping out the old mortar from between the brickwork and replacing it.

Hillcrest Estate was built in 1948, and she said it is not unusual for buildings of that age to need repointing as it is part of their maintenance regime.

Raphaela added: “It is ridiculous. They know what they need to do. It is all listed out by a surveyor what the job entails; so as far as we can see they just need to tender it.”

In one email, sent in March 2021, Raphaela warned Homes for Haringey the leak and property damage was “continuing to get worse”, adding: “The resulting damp presents a health risk to our children, the youngest of whom is a baby ten months old, and her room is the primary room affected by the leak and the damp.”

Raphaela said: “The surveyor said they are not able to issue us in the short term with a dehumidifier. The council said ‘we can’t do that because you are leaseholders’.

"I don’t think that argument would stand up – we are still at a massive inconvenience from something that is not our fault, and it is a health issue as well.”

She added that she had been told other people are experiencing similar issues, and there are problems in the building’s stairwell. Window frames that were only replaced in 2015 had also begun to leak, Raphaela said, which could be contributing to the damp and mould.

Fearing they will be unable to sell their property, Raphaela and her partner are considering taking legal action.

“Really, the council should be taking care of their own estates,” she said. 

Cllr Dana Carlin, the council’s cabinet member for housing services, private renters and planning, said: “I am dismayed to hear the family have been living in these conditions and that the issues have not been resolved sooner. 

“We brought Homes for Haringey in-house in June 2022 and are fully committed to significant improvements in our housing services. We know we must get this right as soon as possible and will be spending almost £5 million on our far-reaching housing improvement plan to ensure council homes are well-maintained.

“On April 18, cabinet also approved a damp and mould policy, with specific timescales and actions. There is now a dedicated damp and mould email address: dampandmould@haringey.gov.uk and phone line (accessed through the call centre housing menu).

“The problems with the outside wall, which are the underlying cause of the damp and mould, will be fixed within four weeks.

"We will also undertake a mould wash, replaster and decorate and ensure the carpets are professionally cleaned.

"Dehumidifiers are available to all our tenants and leaseholders, and we will ensure one is supplied immediately. I would like to offer my sincere apologies to Raphaela Lim.”