Council apologises to Dalston resident Jacqueline Kent for delays in fixing mould hell

Saying sorry: Councillor Clayeon Mckenzie

Hackney Council has apologised to a Dalston resident who has suffered ongoing problems with potentially hazardous mould that has been growing in her council flat for years.

The Hackney Citizen highlighted the case of Jacqueline Kent earlier this month after she wrote a letter to the Town Hall pleading for help when her 88-year-old mother was found to have breathing difficulties thought to have been caused by the mould spores.

Councillor Clayeon McKenzie, the council’s housing services chief, said last week that the council was now taking urgent action to fix the problem.

In a statement issued via the Town Hall’s press office on Friday, he said: “We first became aware of a mould problem in Ms Kent’s home in May. On 18 October an independent specialist carried out a report on its causes on our behalf. Following that report, one of our surveyors is due to visit the property tomorrow (Friday, 4 November) to detail exactly what works need to be carried out. These will be undertaken as a matter of urgency.

“The delay between us becoming aware of the mould problem and initiating action is simply unacceptable. I would like to apologise to Ms Kent for the distress and discomfort caused in that time, as well as the poor standard of service she has received throughout the process. Following the mould treatment, specialist support officers will be visiting Ms Kent to offer advice and help in order to prevent regrowth.

“As a result of the mistakes we’ve made with Ms Kent, we have tightened our processes to ensure that we don’t allow such a delay to happen in future.”

The mould problem is widespread throughout the property