Paty’ence M. is a social housing resident in Enfield, North London.
She and her family – two adults and four children – were experiencing persistent damp and mould in their home, leading to health concerns and a sub-optimal home environment.
HealthyHomes was called in to do a full assessment and suggest what could be done to resolve the problem.
Assessing the Situation
HealthyHomes Senior Assessor Murat met with Pat’yence at her home to complete the home assessment. As he explains:
“The approach we take is always personal – we know we are building relationships with residents for the long-term. We are coming into their home, so it’s crucial that they feel they can trust us.
It’s about meeting them where they are, listening to their concerns and building an understanding without judgement. From there, we can move to the practical actions they can take to make a difference right away.”
Pat’yence’s Experience
We had a conversation with Pat’yence to hear more about her HealthyHomes experience.
“The assessor made me feel comfortable, ensuring everything was easy to understand.”
Q. What was the extent of the mould before the visit, and where was it?
A. We had black mould in the bathroom and the bedroom. The mould was especially bad in the bedroom, even though I tried to clean it as often as possible. It was affecting my vulnerable children’s health—they couldn’t sleep in the bedroom due to the mould, so we had to find another space for them to
sleep.
Q. Tell us about your experience with the HealthyHomes staff who visited your home.
A. It was an extremely positive experience. The HealthyHomes assessor, Murat, gave me valuable moisture management advice and really listened to my concerns. He was polite, very knowledgeable, and made me feel comfortable, ensuring everything was easy to understand.
Then the Clean & Shield team who came were excellent: they cleaned all the mould in the property and then sprayed on a special coating to stop the mould from returning. They ensured everything was tidy after they finished. The rooms were left smelling fresh and feeling clean – the damp, mouldy smell was gone, which was a big relief.
“I now feel confident letting my children sleep in the bedroom, knowing it’s mould-free.”
Q. How has it been since the treatment? What difference has it made?
A. Since the visit, there has been no returning mould in the property apart from some small specks in the bathroom. There’s been no mould at all in the children’s
bedroom since HealthyHomes first attended. I now feel confident letting my children sleep in the bedroom, knowing it’s mould-free.
I’ve followed Murat’s heating and ventilation advice to improve airflow and maintain a stable temperature throughout the winter months. The rooms no longer feel stuffy, and the temperature has been perfect during the colder periods.
