A MUM-OF-FOUR living in 'London's mouldiest flat' wept as she told of how her children vomit at night while her two-year-old gasps for breath.

The nurse, who lives in a Catalyst Housing Association property in Croydon, said she hides in her room to avoid the rotting walls.

Speaking to housing campaigner Kwajo Tweneboa, she said she's been asking the company for help since 2017 – and even took them to court a year ago when the ceiling caved in.

However, she said nothing has happened since then – while surveyors told her it's her "lifestyle" and she simply needs to open a window.

Catalyst says the family have been offered two three-bed houses, both of which were turned down.

"My mental health has really gone downhill," the mum said.

"It's so hard to talk about. I'm a strong person and just living in here has smashed up my social life. 

"I don't invite anyone around. I don't even feel like going nowhere. 

"I'm confined to my room because I don't come in the front room."

Police were called just before Christmas after she told Catalyst: "You lot are making me feel like, what's the point in living."

MUM'S HEARTBREAK

"It hurts me to say that," she said.

"I'm even tearing up now.

"It's so sad and I feel helpless because I literally can't do anything. 

"Do you know what makes it worse is that I'm a key worker. I'm a nurse but I can't do that anymore. 

"I can't go back to uni because we have to have masks, and I can't do it, because if I wear a mask I'm going to suffocate."

Kwajo shared heartbreaking videos on Twitter of the woman's two-year-old daughter struggling to breathe in her sleep.

He said the walls in the living room have warped so badly they're "literally 3D".

"It's by far the worst that I've come across in terms of damp and mould," he said.

'IT'S HORRIFIC'

"Absolutely horrific. The young kids and their mum and dad have been stuck in here even during lockdown."

He said mould is "eating through the wall".

"The smell of damp is – you can smell it from outside, that's how bad it is, yet the family has been expected to live inside," he said.

He showed footage of the ceiling, which collapsed in 2021 and has been covered over with plywood.

"You can see such a bad job that's been done," he said.

"There's still a huge hole in the ceiling, yet they've not come to repair it."

A spokesperson for Catalyst said the family were offered a three-bed home last year, but didn't feel it was right for their needs.

Before Christmas, they were set to move into another three-bedroom home on an interim basis. However, they later changed their minds, it was said.

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“It is very clear that this property is in urgent need of repairs. It does not meet the standards we are committed to ensuring for every one of our customers and we are sorry," the spokesperson said.

“We totally agree the family cannot live in their current home and we have previously offered them alternative accommodation, but our customer did not feel it was right for her family’s needs.

“We are continuing to discuss our customer’s situation with her, and we are committed to finding a suitable property for the family to move into as quickly as possible. This remains our priority.”

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