A single mother in Rochdale says her family has been forced to live in dangerous housing conditions for weeks, including collapsed ceilings, black mould, and structural issues, all while her children, who have serious health needs, are left "breathing in toxic fumes".
Ashleigh Hughes, a mother of three with additional support needs, has told Roch Valley Radio that she is desperate to be moved out of her privately rented home after a series of long-standing safety and health issues were allegedly ignored by her landlord and letting agents.
The most urgent concern centres on a kitchen ceiling collapse that occurred over four weeks ago. Despite warnings from the family's disability social worker, no repair has yet been completed. Ms Hughes claims the ceiling is only being assessed for insurance purposes, a process that could take months. Meanwhile, the family continues to live in the property.
“The house isn’t safe,” she said. “My daughter is terrified the house will fall down. My son has chronic lung disease and epilepsy, and the mould and damp in the bedrooms are making him more ill. I can’t let my kids live like this anymore.”
Ms Hughes, who has Aspergers and Bipolar disorder, also reports that broken fixtures including a leaking bath panel, unsafe stairs, black mould, and severe damp have been left unaddressed. She said the problems were present when she moved in but not disclosed at the time.
The property is managed by Cowell & Norford’s Bamford office, according to Ms Hughes, who says she does not have direct contact details for the landlord. She told us the landlord pays for a premium management package, meaning the estate agents were responsible for inspections.
“This is not a new issue,” she said. “When the landlord tried to remortgage the house, the surveyors saw the damage, acknowledged it was present and nothing was done.”
Despite raising her concerns with Rochdale Council’s Housing Solutions service, Environmental Health, and even her local MP, Ms Hughes says the council will not take action until a further inspection has taken place.
“They were supposed to come last week, but they gave the landlord more time. They’re not coming to fix anything, just to price the job. Meanwhile, my kids are still living in this,” she said.
She also claims her children’s social worker has called for the family to be rehoused urgently. One of her children reportedly misses up to five days of school per week due to health complications linked to the housing conditions.
“I’m not doing this for attention,” she said. “I’m doing it because my kids’ lives are at risk. If the council won’t listen to the professionals, I’ll make sure they hear me another way.”
We approached Cowell & Norford for comment but have not yet received a reply.
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