Norwich nurse struggling with mould and damp issues in flat

Derya Tyman lives in Causeway Close, in Heigham Grove, and works as a nurse at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (N&N).

The 45-year-old has been trying to rid her home of the problems for the last year but her pleas with the Norwich City Council have "fallen on deaf ears".

The mould and damp has been an issue for Miss Tyman for more than a year (Image: Derya Tyman)

It comes after the Evening News was approached by a succession of people living in council-owned accommodation who are at their wit's end due to the amount of mould in their homes.

Miss Tyman, who also has her young son occasionally visit her, said: "The decorating I did when I first moved in about a year ago started to deteriorate three months in, so the paint started to bubble up and holes started to form, because of the damp and mould.

"I've been trying to wash them but it just comes back after a few weeks and the plaster is all lost where the damp is steadily rising."

The mould and damp issue has caused the plaster to come off the wall and paint to bubble up (Image: Derya Tyman)

READ MORE: Norwich City Council paying £800 mould compo to landlord

A city council spokesman said: "We've been in regular contact with Miss Tyman and our surveyors have visited her home twice to identify the cause of the damp.

"A survey by a third party is also now being booked - once this is complete, we'll then carry out any works required."

The issues Miss Tyman is dealing with said it's changed her personality "for the worse" adding: "I've had all sort of negative feelings and feel bitter a lot of the time.

Derya Tyman, 45, lives in Causeway Close in NR2 and is suffering from damp and mould issues (Image: Derya Tyman)

READ MORE: Woman with mouldy flat who was hospitalised given hotel room

"I give so much of myself, caring for vulnerable people and to come home to these living conditions has been really hard - I'm becoming vulnerable myself.

"Whenever I try and get things resolved I just feel like I'm being bounced about different people and my struggles are falling on deaf ears - it's really frustrating."

Miss Tyman has said the damp and mould issues in her house are changing her personality for the worse (Image: Derya Tyman)

'Totally inadequate circumstances'

Paul Thurtell is the owner of County Damp Proofing, in Buxton Road, Spixworth and offers his expertise on reducing mould or damp around the home. 

The 61-year-old, who has more than 30 years in the business, said: "The first thing I check is if the windows have trickle vents and if so, are they open or are they blocked - because they help lower the humidity levels and combat the issue.

Miss Tyman has tried washing and painting over the mould but said it resurfaces after a few weeks (Image: Derya Tyman)

"I also recommend people use a normal emulsion paint which helps absorb moisture, as opposed to vinyl or silk paint, because that acts as a barrier for moisture so the wall can't absorb it and ends up running down instead, creating an issue.

"Don't throw water on a wet spot either as it will make things worse even if it looks like it's working because the moisture will just attack it again, so wiping it with a soft wipe and anti-fungal spray is better.

"It's all a bit chaotic at the moment but people are being put in totally inadequate circumstances."