Feisal Salim has struggled with damp in his Belsize Grove flat

SOCIAL landlords need to adopt a “zero-tolerance” approach to damp and mould according to the housing ombudsman, Richard Blakeway, as he released a report ­criti­cising Camden Council.

The independent adjudicator said local authorities and housing providers were being too slow to react to issues with damp and mould. He added that they were reliant on tenants to report problems, had to chase follow-up work themselves and that councils had a poor track record in responding to complaints about disrepair.

The Town Hall was found to have one of the poorest records of responding to cases and was also found to have committed “maladministration” in eight out of ten reported cases. The council had also paid out £11,692 in compensation.

The housing ombudsman said: “Throughout our investigation, the distress and disruption experienced by residents living with damp and mould was evident.”

The New Journal is routinely contacted with complaints about poor housing conditions, including damp and mould.

Feisal Salim, 67, from Belsize Grove, said the problem had ruined furniture, damaged clothes and belongings, and made his heart condition worse.

He complained to Camden Council, who did not fix the issue and instead offered him a ­dehumidi­fier.  Mr Salim said:

“It’s like they don’t care. They offered me one flat and I used to be a builder, I could see from the outside that it was going to have the same problems with damp.

“It’s causing me stress, which I’m worried will make my heart problems worse. I’m losing sleep and I’m depressed. In the summer I sat outside because I couldn’t bear the damp, but now it’s getting colder I can’t do that, and [cold] makes the damp worse.”

The council said it was working with him to “provide him with a second alternative offer” of a new home – but weeks later this has not happened.

A surveyor has been over to assess what works need to be done, but none has been carried out.

People can complain to the ombudsman’s office if their landlord is a member of the scheme, and they have already made a formal complaint and received a final response from them.

Camden’s housing chief, Councillor Meric Apak, said: “We have been taking proactive action to help residents experiencing damp or mould by creating a dedicated team who work closely with our residents to establish the underlying causes of damp and mould within their homes. They are supported by a new customer services team who provide case management and a complaints function.

“Following a survey of each property by a specialist surveyor, we identify and carry out any related repairs, as well as working with the residents to help reduce any other factors which may be contributing to condensation-related damp and mould.”