Single mum fears for daughter’s health in flooding council flat infested with pests

A single mother says she is scared for her daughter’s health after living in a council flat which regularly floods and is “infested” with insects for 12 years.

Sandra Elusade, 37,  lives in the Wandsworth council-run Eliot Court, in Garratt Lane, with her daughter. 

She said: “There is mould, damp and pests running around. 

“There are bed bugs crawling on me and my daughter as we sleep and the house is infested with mice and cockroaches.

“There is always leaking and flooding, all my belongings get damaged regularly. It goes on for days then leaves damp and more mould.

“My carpet is damaged, my wardrobe is damaged and my belongings are destroyed by the leaks.”

A spokesman for Wandsworth council said the authority’s inspections found “minor” signs of mould inside the property.

In April Ms Elusade and her daughter were moved into emergency accommodation by the council due to flooding from the flat above.

A council spokesman said: “When there was a leak from the tenant’s upstairs flat, the council resolved this as quickly as possible and provided emergency accommodation.

“We also arranged for pest control treatment when alerted that this was required.”

Ms Elusade and her daughter have been diagnosed with asthma and prescribed inhalers by their GP since moving into the property.

Ms Elusade believes their health issues are linked to the damp and mould in the flat. She is also concerned about the presence of asbestos in the tower block – which the council has confirmed.

She said: “I have difficulties breathing. When we stay in the flat, my daughter and I cough all the time.

“We have no history of asthma in our family and I never had these problems before moving in.

“I am so worried about our health that I haven’t worked in six months.”

In 2019 a coroner concluded that Linda Johns, 51, died of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos while living in Eliot Court.

During an inquest into Ms Johns’ death, the court heard that asbestos was recorded in her flat at 8 Eliot Court, in 1984, and that panels and boards containing it were removed by the council in 2003.

But, in March 2021, the inquest findings were quashed by the high court following an appeal from Wandsworth council.

The court ruled that the coroner’s evidence was “not sufficient” to conclude that Ms Johns’ death was a direct result of exposure to asbestos.

Ms Elusade said: “The council has agreed that there’s asbestos in this building and claim it won’t harm us unless we are exposed to it – but we have constant leaks from cracked ceilings and tiles.

“I’m scared for my life and my child’s life.

“I reached out to the estate manager and they don’t seem to care.”

A spokesman for Wandsworth council said: “The council has engaged frequently with Ms Elusade in recent months. 

“We will arrange another inspection to check if any further repairs are required and continue to engage with the tenant and offer support wherever it’s required.”

Pictured top: Mould in Sandra Elusade’s bathroom, image of Ms Elusade (Picture: Sandra Elusade)