Hackney ‘house of horrors’: Dad stuck sleeping in mouldy living room after liver transplant

A dad of two has been trapped sleeping in the living room of a mouldy flat in Hackney described as a “house of horrors” - despite having a liver transplant and needing kidney surgery.

Jamie Mcfall, 43, wife Tammy, 38, and their two children - a boy aged 18 and a girl aged 16 - have lived on the London Fields estate in Hackney, east London, since 2012.

Tammy, a former special needs teacher and nanny, told LondonWorld: “It’s absolutely horrible. It’s depressing.

“We’re living in a two bedroom flat and my kids need a bedroom each. I’ve moved me and my husband into the living room.

“They don’t want to come in here and I don’t blame them. It’s like a house of horrors.”

The property, which they rent from the council, began developing mould two years ago - and the living room walls are now coated with grey mould.

Hackney Homes, the council’s housing association, apologised and said it is now urgently working to resolve the issues - after being alerted by LondonWorld - and has arranged to move the family into an AirBnB while repairs are carried out.

Jamie was diagnosed with liver disease in 2019 and, after giving up alcohol, underwent a liver transplant in December 2020. Since then, he has had cardiac and blood clot issues.

However, since being discharged from hospital, he has been forced to sleep in the mouldy living room, as the couple’s family are overcrowded in their home.

Tammy, who cannot currently work due to health problems, says she believes the issues are related to works done on the building’s exterior.

She first raised the issues with the council in 2020 but after the authorities records were hacked, their details were lost and they had to resubmit their complaint, she said.

“They said they couldn’t do anything about it unless there’s medical needs but my husband has medical needs,” Tammy added. “I’ve sent them letters from specialists.”

“My husband had his transplant and spent a month in intensive care and had to come home to this. The social workers weren’t going to let him come home due to the mould but they had to.

“It had an impact on his recovery from a major surgery.”

Hackney Council tried to send a workman, but the family were told he couldn’t access the property.

“All they needed to do was ring my buzzer,” Tammy said. “The housing manager says we shouldn’t be living here.

“I’m on an inhaler now and I never used to be. The mould is also in my daughter’s room but not so bad.”

She added: “The kids also want to be out all the time and I don’t blame them. They’re embarrassed to bring anyone home - I would be too.”

The flat has asbestos in the floor of the living room and bedrooms, but the family have been told as it is undisturbed, it does not need to be removed.

Tammy, who has hung tapestries over the living rooms to hide the mould and brighten the space, has complained to the ombudsman.

Hackney’s member for housing, Cllr Clayeon McKenzie, said: “We are very sorry that the tenants in question have been experiencing these issues.

“We have arranged for the family to move to temporary accommodation in February while we work in their home to remove the mould.

“As one of the largest social landlords in the country, I want to assure everyone living in one of our council homes that tackling damp and mould is something we take extremely seriously.”

He added: “Last year, we launched our action plan which includes inspecting all reports of damp and mould within five working days, reassessing all outstanding repairs involving damp and mould and ensuring they are prioritised taking account the severity of the case, and the age and health of the people living in the home, and taking steps to support those living in private rented and temporary homes.”

Have you been affected by damp and mould or other issues with your housing in London? Email the LondonWorld team on hello@londonworld.com