A despairing mum says the filthy condition of her flat has left her sleeping on the sofa with her children as she refuses to have anyone over because of the embarrassing state of her home.
Stephanie Shore says the mould is "destroying" her - and says it's causing health problems for her and her kids.
The parent feels "abandoned" Cambridge City Council as she deals with dripping wet carpets and terrible black marks in every room.
Stephanie, who suffers from an autoimmune disorder and scoliosis, moved into the property in 2018 from a mother and baby unit.
She said the flat did have issues at this time but she was rushed into the accommodation and claims she was not allowed to turn it down, CambridgeLive report.
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She says the mould has taken over and it now covers every room (Cambridge News)"I battle day in and day out but the mould is just destroying me" she said.
"The mould is progressing and it has grown really rapidly no matter how many times I clean it and what I clean it with it just keeps coming back.
"If I rub my hand on my bedroom carpet it's soaked. My son is now sleeping with me on the living room sofa because the mould that is rapidly growing around his windows is now turning into black fluffy mould.
"Me, my son and my daughter have experienced health problems because of this. My daughter lives with me every other weekend and when she stays over she's coughing straight away.
"Mentally it's affecting me and the mold is embarrassing, I don't invite people around as the mould is getting out of control. I've got mould-resistant paint on my walls and it's growing on that."
The problems were already on-going when she moved in back in 2018 (Cambridge News)When she arrived, the mum said she was told by the council that work would be done to repair the issues - almost five years down the line and the mould has taken over.
Her son and daughter's bedrooms also have black mould, forcing the family into the living rooms where they share two sofas to sleep on. Stephanie says she has noticed health issues in her children who are left coughing after spending just minutes in their bedrooms.
Not only is it affecting the family physically but mentally, as the mum of two says she is too embarrassed to have anyone over.
The council says a visit to the property is arranged for February 1, with the intention of cleaning away mould and installing a new kitchen vent and bathroom extractor fan.
But so far, Stephanie feels the council has "abandoned" her after providing only two plastic air vents which she says have done nothing to help. She said: "The council keeps saying it is condensation and it is my fault.
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"Someone from the council came unannounced yesterday [January 9] to come and look at the mould and handed me a bit of paper that just said how I should deal with condensation. It was a slap in the face, I'm trying to battle day in and day out but the mould is just destroying me."
She is concerned about the amount of damp in her home (Cambridge News)"I feel completely abandoned, they said if they put these air vents in it would stop it but they haven't." A government survey suggests that damp, mould and condensation are the most commonly reported problems among social housing tenants unhappy with the maintenance and safety of their homes.
Councillor Gerri Bird, executive councillor for housing, said: "We are sorry to hear about anyone who is suffering with mould and have been working hard to raise awareness of how tenants can address these concerns - whether through reducing condensation which leads to mould, or seeking support from the council to deal with persistent problems.
"Everyone can find support on dealing with condensation and mould on our website. In this instance, a previously arranged visit to the property was already scheduled for February 1, with the intention of cleaning away mould.
"In addition, on the same date, a new kitchen vent and bathroom extractor fan are scheduled for installation to address issues identified with the property. It is anticipated that with the remedial action undertaken, along with advice provided to the tenant on how to reduce condensation in their home, this should help to prevent the issues from reoccurring."
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