Shannan Robertson, 23, has been living in her council-owned Greenstead flat for almost two years.

What seemed to be a great home for her and her son Roman, two, soon turned into a nightmare.

Shortly after moving in September 2022, the young family started to struggle with dampness and mould in the flat.

Shannan said: “The mould started just weeks after moving in, which we found in Roman’s room next to his cot and over the walls.

“We reported it to the council, but nothing was done about it, we were told to just clean it and air out the property.

“We then noticed a substantial amount of it in one of our cupboards and on the walls in our kitchen, which we reported again.”

The council responded with an assessment of the property and a dampness inspection using a moisture meter.

Shannan said that the meter readings were alarmingly high, which left her worried about her son’s health.

“With him being a month premature, it was posing a serious danger,” Shannan said.

“He was covered in a fungal rash at just one year old due to sleeping on a mattress that was riddled with mould, but what we didn’t know until we further inspected his room.”

Despite pleading their case with the council, the family say all that happened was a dehumidifier was installed and alterations were made to their bathroom.

Stuck in the flat, the family is worried about taking up taxpayer money, as they said they were paid by Colchester Council to run the dehumidifier, totalling £2,900 over one year.

A spokesman for Colchester Borough Homes said: “We are aware of the concerns raised by the tenant and are actively addressing the matter as part of our Stage 2 complaints process.

“We take all reports of damp and mould seriously and are committed to resolving these issues. Our records indicate that several photographs circulating on social media were taken over a year ago when the property experienced dampness following a leak from the shower.

“Since then, we have worked to address the issue and have provided a dehumidifier to help manage moisture levels in the home.

“As this matter is being handled through the formal complaints process, we will continue to engage with the tenant to ensure that all outstanding concerns are appropriately addressed.

“At present, no tenants have been moved from their homes due to mould or damp issues. While we do not hold exact figures on the number of properties currently affected by mould and in need of repairs, all reported concerns are promptly inspected and addressed.

“Our housing repairs and maintenance teams prioritise cases based on urgency, with a strong focus on addressing mould and structural repairs to ensure that homes remain safe and habitable.

“CBH remains proactive in addressing these concerns and recently held three damp and mould engagement sessions across the city to provide residents with advice and support in maintaining mould-free homes.