A payout from Norwich City Council to a tenant for failing to deal with serious mould complaints could spark a "step change" in how local authorities tackle the issue.
The council has been ordered to pay compensation to Andy Sharpe, 59, who has lived in his rented ground floor two-bedroom flat in Sleaford Green, off Aylsham Road, since 2005.
Mr Sharpe took his concerns to the Housing Ombudsman Service last year after he said an inspector brought in by the council last year claimed severe mould and damp on his walls and windows were caused by his "lifestyle", which he denied.
The council carried out repairs to the roof and guttering this summer but the ombudsman ruled on November 30 that the council paid £600 "for the failures identified in relation to its response to reports of damp and mould".
It added the council needed to pay an additional £300 "for its communication with the resident about the damp and mould. Specifically, its inference of this being the result of the resident’s lifestyle with no evidence to support this".
The payout comes after a coroner ruled two-year-old Awaab Ishak, from Rochdale, died as a result of a respiratory condition caused by mould in his council-owned home in December 2020.
Chrissie Rumsby, Labour county councillor for Mile Cross, said: "I hope this will be a step change overall. Mould causes massive health problems and it has taken a young child to die before anyone took notice.
"This cannot be the only property with damp issues. The council has good homes but there are also a lot that need rebuilding."
She added the problem was a lack of funds for councils from central government.
READ MORE: Norwich tenant slams housing association's lack of damp work
Mr Sharpe first reported issues with the guttering in 2017 and added the subsequent mould and damp issues had caused a lot of suffering for him and his 20-year-old son, who moved out last year because of allergies.
The 59-year-old, who has attempted to carry out repairs, said: "I hope it will be a wake-up call. I feel it is a victory of words.
"The statement is more important than the fiscal amount. I hope it will pave the way."
At the time of writing the city council wasn't able to provide a comment but has subsequently offered an apology to Mr Sharpe.
READ MORE: Mould health problems brought to focus after Rochdale toddler's death
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