Newcastle social housing tenants worried about their health due to mould outbreak

They say they noticed the mould soon after they moved in and that within months it had spread through their furniture and clothing, forcing them to throw out some of their possessions.

“I’ve got it as much as I can get it, but it just keeps coming back,” said one of the residents.

“The amount of money I’ve spent just trying to clean this place is amazing, and I’m only on the disability pension and so is my daughter.”

The pair are now sleeping in the same room after mould spread through the daughter’s bedroom.

They have been in contact with the Department of Communities and Justice and began lobbying for a transfer soon after they moved in.

“I feel they have left me down,” says the resident.

“They have let my daughter down, severely.”

A Department of Communities and Justice Spokesperson said “an inspection of the property was arranged to follow up on the tenant’s concerns”.

“If repairs or maintenance are required, they will be undertaken,” the spokesperson said.

The housing authority also added that it’s “working with the tenant involved to address her concerns and will continue to communicate with her regarding her request to be transferred to an alternative property.”

57,550 people are on the list for social housing across New South Wales, according to the latest figures.

Meanwhile, the wait time can be more than ten years.

In the lead-up to the March election, both major parties have made commitments to tackle the housing crisis.

NSW Member for Newcastle and Labor Party MP Tim Crakanthorp says his party has committed 30 per cent of all government surplus land having social and affordable housing and pointed to the party’s plan to set up a new agency called Homes NSW.

“It will be a one-stop shop for social housing,” he says.

“Currently they’re a number of different departments that people in social housing have to go through.”

“We’re drawing them all together to make it easier for them, to hopefully create more efficiencies and save taxpayers’ money.”

The Liberal Candidate for Newcastle, Thomas Triebsees, says “the state government is delivering $1.2 billion for homelessness, social and affordable housing services as we speak”.

“To improve social and affordable housing options in Newcastle, the government is right now delivering a $16 million worth of social housing over the next three years, in partnership with the local council,” he said.