We're treated like peasants, say tenants in fight over mouldy homes

Tenants on the Nags Head Estate in east London are expressing outrage over persistent mould and damp issues, leading them to enlist legal support and medical professionals from the charity Medact in their battle against Peabody, a prominent housing association. Lorraine Branch, a resident for 14 years, articulates the tenants' frustration, stating they feel treated like "peasants" unworthy of decent living conditions. Although Peabody claims to have invested over £1 million in improvements, residents argue that repairs are merely cosmetic and fail to resolve the underlying damp issues. Many tenants, including Fatima Tejani, report serious health problems, including respiratory illnesses, that they attribute to their living conditions. Medact's survey of 37 households found that 35 reported visible mould, and 31 families experienced new health symptoms since moving in.

Tenants are particularly concerned about the dangers posed by the combination of water and electricity in their homes. Their efforts to organize and advocate for change emphasize the urgent need for effective solutions to their living conditions. The situation raises broader questions about housing quality and tenant rights in the UK.