A MUM says her flat is so mouldy that she's been forced to share a bed with her 26-year-old son.

Grace Zipki, 62, said that a leak in her flat in Ladbroke Grove, West London left untreated since 2018 has caused a midge infestation and mould on the walls – as well as a stream of water running down the stairs, ruining her clothes and belongings.

She claimed that the flat is now so inhospitable that she has sought medical help for depression.

The mum said that she reported the leak in 2018 and complained again last November after the stream got worse – but her housing association Peabody failed to stop it.

Grace told MyLondon: "On December 14 the surveyor attended. He had a look around and then said 'Let me touch the wall to see if the water has gone through the wall'.

"His hand nearly went through the whole wall because it was so saturated.

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"He left and said that he's going to have a word with his manager and get back to me and maybe possibly moved me temporary accommodation."

The mum was moved to temporary accommodation in February, but slammed the new flat as inadequate.

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She claimed that the new flat has no hot water, that the balcony is strewn with pigeon droppings and that she has been forced to share a bunk bed with her 26-year-old son.

Grace added that she still heads back to her old flat for hot showers despite "getting bitten each time by midges".

She said: " I've been to the GP more than nine times, I have been to A&E a whole day because I started having respiratory problems, which I've never had in my life.

"But as of today and ongoing I cannot cope without my asthma pump. I've now been diagnosed as asthmatic.

"I was on antidepressants, I've made it clear to the housing association I could be classed as vulnerable because I suffer from anxiety and I came off the tablets last year.

"When I eventually saw my GP they could tell I was not coping without my tablets. So I got put back on antidepressants."

"Nobody has called me. No one. I just feel like a forgotten person with my son."

Grace still pays rising energy bills to heat her empty flat, and has also allegedly forked out to move her clothes into storage.

The mum claimed that her housing association has offered her £100 in compensation rather than moving her into a clean new apartment.

Peabody said: "We are sympathetic to Ms Zipki’s situation, and our teams are working to resolve the outstanding repairs in her home.

"We have been in regular contact with Ms Zipki to update her about the progress and want her to be able to move back home as soon as possible.

"We will resolve the hot water issue as soon as we are able to agree a suitable time with Ms Zipki and will continue to support her until she returns to her home."

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It comes after two young women said their damp flat is so mouldy that they struggle to breathe when they wake up in the morning.

A disabled Traveller mum said she has also been forced to live in a mouldy council flat – and would rather be in her caravan.

How to get compensation for mould in your home

FAMILIES forced to live in mouldy homes could get hundreds of pounds in compensation from their landlord.

It’s estimated that a staggering 1.9million rented households are living with hazards that pose a serious risk to tenants’ health and safety.

The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act came into force in March 2020 and means landlords must make sure their properties meet certain standards.

It means renters in England and Wales can now take their landlords to court over problems including cold and damp homes. 

The rules apply to new tenancies under seven years; new secure, assured and introductory tenancies; and to tenancies renewed for a fixed term. 

The rules mean landlords must carry out repairs or rectify problems, and if not renters will have the right to take them to court.

A court can grant an injunction forcing the landlord to carry out work or even award compensation to the tenant.

How much compensation you get for housing disrepair depends on your circumstances and how bad the problem is.

It is usually calculated as a percentage of the rent you paid while living in the conditions.

A completely uninhabitable property could get 100% of rent as compensation, but this is incredibly rare.

More typically, compensation would be between 25% and 50% of your rent, according to legal experts.

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