MUM 'FORCED TO COOK IN BEDROOM'

September 15, 2006

A FED-UP mum claims she has been forced to cook meals in her bedroom

because her kitchen is infested with mould.

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South Tyneside Today - UK

Marie Knight, 37, from The High Road, South Shields, has set up her

microwave and fridge just inches from her bed so she can prepare

food for herself and 14-year-old daughter Holly.

She has also turned a wardrobe into a temporary pantry after she

discovered mould in the kitchen cupboards.

The mum-of-one has blasted housing chiefs, claiming they have

ignored the problem.

She said: " This problem with mould has been ongoing for nearly five

years now, and it's been getting worse and worse.

" I refuse to cook downstairs. It's unhealthy and unhygienic when I'm

preparing food.

" We don't even store food in the cupboards any more as mould is

starting to grow in there.

" We can't even have proper meals using this equipment, and we're

living on takeaway food. "

Mrs Knight says she has repeatedly contacted her landlord, the Home

Group, at its office in Lisle Road, South Shields, but to no avail.

She added: " It's always the same – people passing the buck and

everyone blaming everyone else.

" I'm so ashamed of my house I have to keep the curtains closed now

to stop people looking in.

" It's not fair that we have to live like this – these are people's

lives you're talking about. "

A spokesman for the Home Group, which owns more than 16,000

properties across the north east, said officers will be in touch

with Mrs Knight to discuss her complaint.

" We have lodged this tenant's concerns, and our staff will be

contacting her to discuss a solution to this problem. We take all

feedback very seriously. "

15 September 2006

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