We fear for the health of our children in a moldy council flat infested with MICE – it’s a living nightmare

A FATHER shared how he fears for his children’s health as they live in a mold-infested high-rise where mice are falling from the CEILING.

Locals living at Jordan House in Castle Bromwich, Birmingham, say life is being made hell for them after being forced to live in appalling conditions.

4

4

4

More than 50 families live in the high-rise, which has “literally raining inside” and mold so thick it can “almost be tasted”.

They claim they are being forced to live in unsafe conditions due to the risk of leaking water getting into the building’s electrical system, which is also infested with mice.

Residents say they have received little if any support from Birmingham City Council and feel they must “just rot”.

Chase Simper, 26, who lives with his partner Tammy Hill, 29, says he’s worried about the health of their two children, Mason, seven, and Cody, four.

The former warehouse worker said a mouse even landed on his shoulder after falling out of an elevator shaft while one of his sons found a mouse in his BED at night.

The couple say they also have to heat their children’s clothes with a hair dryer in the morning because they are so damp and they don’t have a working heater.

Birmingham City Council has since apologized and started carrying out repair work.

Chase, who has started a petition urging the council to accommodate residents, said: “It’s a living nightmare and I’m at the end of my tether.

“The place is a massive health and fire hazard and has been since we moved in six years ago.

“First we found there was no heating so they sent us a single plug in storage heater and considered the problem solved. So that set the tone for the future.

“Now it’s literally raining in our house. Leaking is non-stop, we constantly put towels down but they get soaked after a few hours.

“The other night at 2:30 a.m. we were woken up by our fire alarm to find water had entered and caught fire.

“All they did was wrap some tape around the wires. We no longer feel safe living here, but we have no choice.

“We have received over 300 repair notifications in six years. We tried to talk about a new home but they say we have to stay.”

They continued: “We can’t afford £1,000 a month rent so privatization is out of the question.

“In our house there is mold in every corner and we have redecorated several times. It’s constant stress without end.

“Besides, it’s full of mice. Two weeks ago one fell from the ceiling in the elevator and hit the floor off my shoulder. It’s horrible.

“One night one of the guys ran over to me because there was a mouse in his bed. So we got a cat to get rid of the mice, I don’t like animals at all.

“My partner’s health has suffered, she has chronic fatigue syndrome and I no longer work because of the stress it causes.”

The outside of the block is currently covered in gray scaffolding as renovation work takes place, making the site “look derelict” and “about to be bulldozed”.

Chase added, “It’s been like this for over a year. They try to make the outside look beautiful, but they don’t care what’s happening inside.

“Now it looks like the bulldozers are coming, which would be best for that.

“The municipality provided some new kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms for some apartments – but they had to rip them out again because they all had water damage.

“They just don’t address the main issue and it’s making our lives miserable.

“The heating still doesn’t work. We have to warm up our kids’ clothes with the hair dryer in the morning because they are all so damp.”

Chase says he spent £500 on pest control and more than £7,000 on renovating his home, where he pays £130 a week to live.

A spokesman for Birmingham City Council said: “We are aware of the residents’ petition regarding Jordan House and apologize for any inconvenience our refurbishment work has caused.

“However, these are essential to ensure the property is maintained to a good standard.

“Regarding the roof leak, a new temporary roof cover will be installed this Friday this week before a new roof is fitted as part of the wider major work. Our pest exterminator will work with residents to eradicate rodents.

“In terms of interior work on the properties, 95 percent of the tenants’ homes are now complete (this includes a new kitchen/bathroom/electrical re-wiring/new heating systems/sprinklers and smoke detectors and a new fire door). .

“There has been a delay in completing the work due to a change of contractor but they are now in place and will be fitting a new roof within the next few weeks and completing any outstanding structural work both internally and externally.

“In order to bring the block up to the current fire protection regulations, new heat-insulating outer wall insulation has to be installed.

“In order for this to happen and to minimize disruption to tenants, Birmingham City Council will examine whether the affected customer can be rebooked to another floor of the block if space is available, or whether they can be accommodated while these works are being carried out into temporary accommodation in being laid nearby.”

4