'We can't breathe at night time as our housing association home is riddled with mould'

'We can't breathe at night time as our housing association home is riddled with mould' Shannon McPhee and her partner Calum Watson have claimed a mould growth at their home in Thurso has left them struggling to breathe, and it's not the only problem they face A young couple has said they've been left with persistent coughs and breathing difficulties after their home was taken over by a creeping blanket of mould. Shannon McPhee, 26, and her partner Calum Watson, 28, started renting their home in Thurso, the Scottish Highlands, in May 2019, and have in the years since been overrun by the blossoming growth. Conditions in the home have deteriorated significantly as the growth took root, growing to cover internal doors, window frames and floorboards. The pair say the invasion has got so bad that the growth is starting to impact the way they breathe, especially at nighttime when they're trying to sleep. To see more of the stories you love from The Mirror and to find them easily in Google then make us your preferred source. Free and easy-to-do, just click on the link here to find more from The Mirror at the top of your feed. Calum said he has noticed breathing becomes especially difficult when falling asleep on his back, and he believes the situation can be improved if some of the infected surfaces are replaced. He said: "I've noticed it's hard on the breathing when you're falling asleep and lying on your back - it can get really hard to breathe with the mould." While pointing out some of the affected areas in the home, Calum added: "We feel like if this was replaced, it could really improve our breathing." Shannon recounted a similar experience of breathlessness, saying she would wake up struggling to breathe, and even sought medical advice regarding her chest. She said: "It's on the bedroom door and we can't breathe at night time. I'll be on Snapchat sending voice notes to people and they say I sound completely breathless." "There were nights when I went to sleep in the back room and I genuinely felt like I couldn't catch my breath at all. I've been to the doctor twice about it." The encroaching mould isn't the only issue the couple say they have encountered at the property, as they've also expressed alarm at the condition of their internal doors. Shannon claimed the bathroom door previously worked itself loose from its hinges and struck her on two separate occasions before it was removed and stored in a back room. Shannon continued: "Over time, with opening and closing, it eventually fell on me, and then it fell on me again. My boyfriend said we had to move it because it kept falling. It has mould on it as well." Shannon strongly refuted suggestions from housing staff that the mould was caused by hanging wet laundry over internal doors. She said: "They accused me of putting stuff on the doors, but it's not wet clothes. We don't have enough storage, so we fold dry jumpers and throws from the sofa and hang them on the door. It is completely dry." The couple have clashed with Cairn Housing Association (CHA), which owns the property, over the source of the damp. Shannon raised an official complaint regarding a visit by staff in September, alleging that officials were dismissive and laughed off her concerns. The manner in which she was treated prompted her to submit an official complaint regarding staff conduct, stating that at every turn she felt she was "getting nowhere at all". Responding to the concerns, CHA said it takes all reports of damp, mould, and staff conduct seriously, but stated that a full inspection found no wider environmental danger in the flat. A CHA spokesperson said: "We take all reports of damp, mould and condensation, and staff conduct seriously. We arranged urgent work to clean and treat the two affected doors. "The damage was consistent with moisture from damp items being hung over the doors. We have given the tenant advice to help prevent this from reoccurring. We have also replaced the bathroom plywood flooring and applied a protective waterproof coating. In addition to repairing the affected doors, we have also offered to replace two further damaged doors as a gesture of goodwill." Addressing the incident with the loose door and reports of mould elsewhere, the association added: "Our records show we have not received any reports of a tenant being struck by a door. "We are satisfied that all necessary repairs are being addressed and we have taken all steps to support the tenant. The mould in the window frame had not previously been brought to our attention, and we will arrange for this to be cleaned. Our thorough inspection found no environmental mould risk within the property. "We have investigated concerns about the conduct of our staff. We recognise the tenant felt their concerns were not taken seriously and we are sorry for the distress they have experienced. We expect all staff to treat tenants with empathy and respect."