Everyone has a right to live in a home that is safe, secure and in a good condition. That’s not the case for one constituent in Sheffield Heeley who had an 18-month battle with Sheffield City Council to make urgent repairs to her Council property.

In April 2022 Louise Haigh MP for Sheffield Heeley was contacted by a mum of a two-year-old after her roof had developed a leak. The leak had destroyed the ceiling forcing it to collapse into her child’s bedroom and damaged their belongings.

The child was then unable to sleep in the bedroom, which was now covered in damp and mould, and was sleeping in her mother’s room, who was 34 weeks pregnant at the time. As a result of the damp and mould that had developed in the property, her child also developed asthma and breathing difficulties.

After 18 months of back and forth with the Council, urgent repairs not being carried out, and being forced to live in damp and mouldy conditions, Louise helped the constituent move to a new property but the one she is leaving is still in a desperate state.

Louise Haigh MP for Sheffield Heeley, said:

“This is an appalling case of neglect and total failure on the part of Sheffield City Council and in particular the Chair of the Housing Committee, who in December last year, set up the damp and mould taskforce to address cases like this.

“My constituent, and her two children were forced to live in the most appalling conditions, and as a result of the damage caused by the leak and subsequent damp and mould many of her possessions have been destroyed.

“Sadly, this is not an isolated case, and I’m contacted regularly by residents with the same story of failings by Sheffield Council.

“People should not be left to live like this, and I am calling for an urgent inquiry into this case and others like it so that residents of Sheffield don’t have to continue to.”