WATCH: Disabled 71-year-old on oxygen wants moved from mould-riddled Thurso house – 'No one should live in these conditions,' says local MP
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A sick and elderly Thurso man, who carries an oxygen cylinder to help him breathe, is pleading with Highland Council to be decanted from his mouldy home before it "kills" him.
Peter Bodek (71) lives at Marr Terrace in the Ormlie area and suffers from heart and respiratory issues which he feels are exacerbated by masses of damp mould patches on his walls, curtains, bedding and clothing.
"I've had the ambulance people in here four times since I moved here in November for my breathing problems and chest pains," said Peter.
"Well, they came in [ambulance crew] and hit the roof. They said, 'This is no good for you, your health is at risk. It's getting worse and worse'. The last time they came they wanted to take me into hospital but I don't want to go into hospital if I can avoid it."
Peter carried a cylinder of oxygen as he conducted a tour of the property and was breathing from it using a nasal cannula attachment. Most of his feet and lower parts of his legs were bound tightly with compression bandages to treat fluid retention issues and weeping ulcers related to his bad heart. He says he is a Christian and does not want to make a fuss or "jump the queue" for another house.
"I showed my doctor a photograph [of the mould] and she couldn't believe it because it's so bad. To all intents and purposes it's not suitable, she said. I've got worse since I've moved here and it's really bad in the bedroom."
Peter was happy for photographs and a video clip to be taken to highlight how bad the mould is in his home. Just above head height in a corner of the bedroom is a vent that is surrounded by a mass of green mould and this continues across the wall to the window. There were mould spores evident on the curtains and Peter says he has had to throw some of his clothing out due to the same problem. When he was interviewed last Wednesday there appeared to be mould spores on his fleece top as well.
"I've informed the council two or three times and there was a meeting in December about things they were going to do but it's still not done. There were other things like the toilet coming up and I phoned them about 10 times. I said, 'If it comes up again I'm going to take that toilet out' and they're supposed to be ordering a trap for the sink as it gurgles. There's loads of stuff wrong here."
People with "compromised immune systems, allergies or respiratory problems" are more vulnerable to mould-related illnesses, says Mold Busters on its website. Peter says he asked around his neighbourhood and found others were experiencing the same issues.
"I've had heart failure and have respiratory problems along with hearing and sight problems too. I've had problems with ulcers on my legs as well as circulation problems. Years ago, they said if I had an operation I wouldn't have lasted on the operating table.
"I was put on oxygen down in Shrewsbury 20 years ago for my breathing after they found multiple blood clots." He also showed many of the daily medications he uses including a powerful morphine-based analgesic called Oramorph. "I can get through the whole bottle in a week depending on my pain levels."
Peter says the electric heaters on his walls are ineffective and thinks the house is not "properly sealed" to safeguard against damp and mould. "I think the place is basically killing me," he added.
Highland Council was asked to comment on their tenant's issues and was sent some of the images reproduced in this article. Its spokesperson said: "We cannot comment on individual tenant’s circumstances, however we can confirm that Highland Council is committed to working with our tenants to ensure that reports of damp, mould or condensation are responded to as quickly as possible.
"Advice is offered to our tenants on heating and ventilation of their homes and remedial works will take place if identified at inspection.
"Where there are repeated complaints or the problem resurfaces, we will carry out follow-up inspections and works or will commission an independent survey to identify if there is anything further we can do."
The day after it was contacted about the dire issues Peter is experiencing, the local authority posted guidelines on social media called 'Tips to prevent condensation and mould this winter'. The council also had an independent evaluator assess the property after we had sent the evidence. According to Peter, the evaluator found a leak in the bedroom ceiling and told him he would be sending the local authority a "damning report" on the problems discovered.
Local MP Jamie Stone was informed on the matter and had already mentioned Peter's predicament at a session on 'Disabled People: Energy Bills Support' in the House of Commons on February 7.
He said: ""To be honest, I was rather shocked by this case. I was surprised that the Highland Council, who are normally so good at dealing with this sort of thing, appear to have missed his case.
"For this reason, I felt it necessary to raise his case in the House of Commons. Given the response received by the Government, I feel that action will be taken. The bottom line is that no one should have to live in these conditions."
Peter sees the mould from a Biblical perspective and thinks of it like a type of leprosy that make people avoid visiting him. He said: "Look at my age, I'm 71 and the council put me in this dump. I think the they have just put me in a place to die."
