The mould at Cameron Henderson’s home in Kentish Town

TENANTS in a Kentish Town flat said they’ve been suffering headaches and dizziness from severe black mould throughout their flat which has lasted for the past seven years.

They say around half the properties in Athlone House, Athlone Street, are riddled with dangerous black mould, and the landlord – the housing association Origin Housing – has not acted, the tenants and residents association (TRA) chair said this week.

Cameron Henderson, 32, who has just restarted the tenants and residents association, said: “I’ve watched this block get run down for the last 8-10 years. I’m watching kids play on the stairs with rats running past them and I’m watching people email email email and nothing is done.

“The way people are being made to live here is making them physically and mentally ill. [Origin Housing] is supposed to be a charity.

“Origin Housing is a charitable organisation that is taking money and not spending money. They charge £100 a month on top of rent for cleaning and maintenance of the communal areas but they haven’t done anything.”

Cameron Henderson at Athlone House

In Mr Henderson’s flat which he shares with his mother, black mould has spread throughout his bedroom, the hallway, bathroom and kitchen. He threw away three pairs of shoes after they were ruined by spores growing on them next to his bedroom. The light in the bathroom hasn’t worked for two years because of the damp.

In a recent Origin Housing report seen by the New Journal the surveyor said the damp and mould was “severe”, meaning “the property is uninhabitable and extensive works are required”.

But further down the report it contradictorily says the property is considered fit for human habitation.

Following the death of toddler Awaab Ishak, who died after contracting a respiratory disease caused by black mould in his flat, Mr Henderson and his mother are very worried about their health.

He said: “People need to understand that you don’t have to live like this, there are laws that can help you – but people living in the block feel like giving up.” To bring the block together, Mr Henderson has transformed a disused garden behind the block that was a former bomb shelter into a space for residents to enjoy.

A spokesperson from Origin Housing said it was sorry some residents had damp and mould issues but said its records did not indicate a block-wide problem.

“Over the past year we have intensified our approach to damp and mould and have been encouraging people who are experiencing damp and mould to get in touch so we can work together on resolving the issue,” they said. “Once a resident gets in touch, we will send a surveyor out to their home to assess the cause and arrange for any necessary repairs.

“In the report the surveyor will look at the severity of the case and talk through any recommendations with the resident.

“We aim to reduce any health risk by prioritising urgent repairs to enable people to remain in their homes, whilst we complete any further repair work. “We welcome feedback on our service and are committed to work in partnership with residents.”