Damp blankets, mould a mum’s worry

A Christchurch mum says her

7-year-old’s daughter’s health is being put at risk by damp and mould in their Ka¯ inga Ora home.

Jeneil Payne has lived in the twobedroom state house in Riccarton for three years and says problems with damp are a yearly occurrence.

Her daughter, Dakota, said her blankets were wet. When Payne pulled out the bed, there was mould on the bedding and on the wall.

She contacted housing provider Ka¯ inga Ora, a Crown agency, when she discovered the issue on June 27, but the problem had still not been addressed three weeks later.

‘‘My daughter had been complaining that her bed was wet, and I thought it was an excuse for a

7-year-old not to go to bed,’’ she said. ‘‘I investigated it and her blankets were actually mouldy. The wall was completely soaked; you could see water dripping off.’’

She had rung Ka¯ inga Ora repeatedly, she said. ‘‘I feel like noone is taking me seriously.’’

The issue first arose in July last year and Ka¯ inga Ora cleared the mould and painted the wall with anti-damp paint.

The mould had since appeared on another wall in the same room.

‘‘I’ve contacted Housing New Zealand numerous times and I just feel like they are taking me for a joke,’’ she said.

‘‘They keep saying they will get my tenancy manager to ring back in 48 hours, since the 27th of last month. I’m still waiting.’’

The single mum hoped to move, but alternative accommodation was difficult to find.

Ka¯ inga Ora regional director Liz Krause said the agency took the wellbeing of its customers seriously.

‘‘We are aware of Jeneil’s concerns about her home and have been working with her to find the most appropriate way forward since she first raised these with us.’’

Maintenance contractors had visited Payne’s home to assess what work might be needed, she said. ‘‘The best next step will be to remove the gib board in the bedroom, install new insulation, reline and paint the walls. We will be following up on this as a matter of priority.’’

The home had a heat pump and bedroom panel heaters, Krause said.

‘‘We regularly remind our customers of the importance of ventilation and using the heating appliances provided to reduce and prevent dampness and mould.’’

A report published by Stats NZ and the Building Research Association in December last year found 28,000 New Zealand homes were damp and mouldy.