A disabled woman from Dartford says she “can’t cope” living with mould and severe cold in her home and has sometimes resorted to sleeping in her car to avoid it.

The woman, who wishes to be kept anonymous, moved into her bungalow in Dartford in 2021 after what she claims to be a turbulent 10 years dealing with hate crime from neighbours.

She now resides in a bungalow which is managed by housing association L&Q, who has been made aware of the issues she’s been having.

However, since moving, the woman says that her new home has a new set of problems with mould and draft.

The woman said: “I moved here after years of dealing with hate crime and feeling unsafe in my own home.

“Honestly, I was glad to finally be free, but now I’ve got a house full of mould that’s unbearably cold and I wish I’d never moved.

“The whole bungalow is freezing with drafts coming in, mould growing in every room and everywhere feels damp.

“I can see my breath in here most days, it’s as cold in the house as it is outside.

“Honestly I just can’t cope with it anymore.”

The woman has cerebal palsey and arthritis, as well as a compromised immune system following an injury which she now takes several medications for.

She says she discovered the mould growing a few months ago after work had been completed on her roof in the summer.

A spokesperson for L&Q said that the new roof was installed in September to alleviate the issues.

They also said the resident reported further concerns about the roof last Thursday and that they agreed to replace the felt covering as a precautionary measure.

The woman claims that the windows in her current property were due to be replaced in August due to their age causing the sealant to break, along with a broken roof panel in her living room windows.

The woman said: “In August, they came to fix the roof because it had moss growing on it.

“But since then, I’ve noticed that the whole house feels colder than it did last year and I’ve raised a complaint with L&Q.

“The sealant in my windows is cracked and broken which lets so much cold air in.

“The little bit of flat roof on top of my bay windows has broken.

“The windows aren’t due to be fixed until late January now, but I can’t wait that long.

“The mould at my windows is so bad that I can’t even hang up curtains or blinds which is letting even more heat out.

“The mould is in every room in the house, I can’t even escape to the bedroom to keep warm because that’s just as cold.

“I’m scared to eat at my dining table because the mould in that room is so bad, I don’t want it contaminating my food.”

A spokesperson for L&Q explained that they are waiting for the delivery of specialist parts and will be replacing the windows and doors early in the new year.

The woman claims she notified L&Q of the mould when she first began to notice it a few months ago after work had been completed on the property roof.

However, she says that the issues still haven’t been resolved to tackle the causes of the mould and damp.

The woman says that in recent days since snow and ice hit London and the south east, conditions in her home have become worse. The woman said: “When I saw the snow I honestly just looked out from my door and cried.

“It’s been bad enough lately, but this cold weather has made living in my house unbearable.

“I just can’t get warm; I’m scared to wash my hair because I know I won’t be able to dry it which could cause a chest infection which I’m now prone to getting.

“There’s no escape, the radiators won’t get warm where they are so old and I’m living every day in my flat layered with coats and scarfs just to try and stay warm.”

The woman told the News Shopper that measures got so desperate in recent times that she was forced to sleep in her car because it’s warmer than her house.

She says that the nature of her disability makes it difficult to keep the mould under control.

She explained: “I’m in a wheelchair or I use crutches, I can’t stand to reach the mould on my kitchen window to even try to clean it with bleach.

“I’m being told to open my windows which will make my house even colder and every time I put my heating on it doesn’t even make any difference where the radiators are so old.”

A spokesperson for L&Q said the home has been treated twice previously as part of its Healthy Homes programme to target the causes of the mould and damp.

The woman contacted disability charity Scope for help and advice, and she says they have been a valuable aid to her at this time.

The woman said: “Scope have been amazing; I’ve been on the phone to them every other day for advice.

“They are the ones who told me to log a complaint with L&Q and offered me heating vouchers.”

Head of Communications at Scope, Alison Kerry, said: “The cost-of-living crisis is hitting disabled people hard.

“We hear from disabled people who can’t afford to heat their homes or get the housing support they need every day.

“Services like our helpline are more vital than ever.”

The woman says she is reluctant to use hot water bottles after one burst leading to her being hospitalised with injuries a few years ago.

The woman said: “People say to me ‘just get a hot water bottle’ but I used one a few years ago and it burst and burnt my skin.

“Even the sight of them now gives me major PTSD.”

As the winter continues, the woman says she’s apprehensive for her future and worries that she won’t be able to cope both financially and physically.

The woman said: “I’m dreading my fuel bills coming in, I can’t keep myself well in a cold and damp house but what am I supposed to do?

“All I’m asking for is a warm home, I’m disabled and housebound I can’t get out or go anywhere to escape from the constant cold.

“I don’t have anyone to go and stay with, all I’m asking for is a warm house where I can keep myself safe and not freeze this winter.” A spokesperson for L&Q said: “We are sorry for the issues that the resident has been experiencing with her home.

“Our residents’ needs are very important to us, and we’re working closely with her to put things right.

“The property has been treated twice as part of our Healthy Homes programme, which specifically pinpoints and targets the causes of mould and damp.

“At our most recent inspection on 30 June 2022, we identified a scope of works to be carried out to alleviate the issues and, following a survey from a specialist, we installed a new roof on 12 September 2022.

“The resident reported concerns about the roofing to us last Thursday and we sent our contractors out to investigate the next day.

“We found no structural issues but agreed to replace a felt covering as a precautionary measure, and this job will be completed by the end of the week.

“We are awaiting the delivery of parts from a specialist manufacturer for the remaining repairs, which will include fully replacing the windows and doors, and are aiming to finish these works early in the new year.”