Kevin Smith and his family are trapped in a living nightmare in their home on Lyttelton Road, Stourbridge. The house is riddled with damp, pervasive mould, unsafe electrical wiring, structural damage, and even invasive Japanese Knotweed pushing through a door. These dangerous conditions have severely impacted their health and wellbeing.
Mr. Smith, 39, lives with emphysema, while his partner Danielle Hutton, 36, suffers from asthma, and one of their three children is autistic. Earlier this year, Ms. Hutton needed emergency medical help for breathing difficulties. Paramedics were so alarmed by the state of the home that they made a safeguarding referral to Dudley Council.
The family has lost use of three rooms due to mould, and part of the ceiling on the ground floor has collapsed because of water damage seeping through a flat roof. Despite constantly running a dehumidifier—filled four times daily—the damp persists, exacerbating their respiratory issues.
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Mr. Smith expressed his frustration and despair: “I can’t work because of my health and the constant stress. It’s soul-destroying trying to get help when you don’t have the money to fix it yourself.” Battling severe anxiety and depression, he has faced moments of hopelessness but remains determined to stay united with his family.
Dudley Council inspected the property on March 12 and is preparing a report to decide if it is unfit for habitation, which could prompt enforcement action against the landlord. While alternative accommodation has been offered, the family deems the options unsuitable, fearing that accepting them would classify them as “intentionally homeless.”
Local councillor Tony Creed has demanded a faster council response, and Stourbridge MP Cat Eccles has formally raised the family’s case with the authorities. Yet Mr. Smith feels neglected and forgotten: “We have shown the evidence, but it feels like we’re being treated as less than human. The mental toll of this uncertainty is overwhelming and puts us at even greater risk.”
The Smith family’s plight highlights the urgent need for safer housing and more responsive support to protect vulnerable tenants from health-endangering living conditions.