"I’m helpless" - Mum lives with young daughters in mouldy flat

Chloe Soder, 22, from Colne Court on the Watersedge estate, said she and her daughters, aged 2 and 4, keep on catching colds.

The single mum says: "I feel like a terrible parent that my girls have to live in this. I’m helpless. I don’t have a lot of money, I can’t afford to redecorate every few months."

The flat is described as cold with dark mould growing on its walls and puddles constantly forming on its window sills.

She said: "The windows look as though someone has pointed a hose at them from the inside."

Despite repeated complaints, she said Epsom Council and Rosebery Housing Association have failed to solve the problem.

But the housing association said: "Rosebery is fully aware of the ongoing problems in Ms Soder’s flat.

"We have carried out a range of works to deal with the problems at the property, and we plan to carry out further, extensive works to provide a permanent remedy.

"Our surveyor has recently visited and we are able to start further remedial works immediately, but Ms Soder has asked us to delay them until March 3.

Ms Soder said: "They wanted to come round and wash it (mold) off. They said they don't have a solution at the moment. I could be waiting six months to a year."

She said she did not want the housing association to remove the mould until an environmental health officer had looked at the problem.

She added: "It's multiplying by the week. There's mould all over the bottom of my mattress and the wooden bed slats."

In addition, she said mould has grown on the wooden floor and her daughters' toys including a shopping basket and cuddly toys.

The housing association spokesman said: "Rosebery is unable to offer permanent re-housing to Ms Soder and her family, as we do not have any suitable alternative accommodation."