A County Durham resident says he has been forced to sleep in his living room for the last two and a half years, due to black mould and damp taking over his property.
Max Copeland, 60, from Trimdon, claims that the black mould problem in his Landreth Grove bungalow has got so bad that he's been forced to move the whole contents of his bedroom into the living room and only live out of half of his house.
Mr Copeland claimed that the problems began in 2024 when he queried with property providers, Livin Housing Ltd, about why his house was so cold all year round.
A mouldy cupboard in the house
(Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
After experiencing several months of coldness, he added that the damp and mould issues intensified when parts of the bathroom and backs of cupboards started to sprout black mould.
Max has been forced to sleep in his living room for the last two and a half years
(Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Paul Thompson, head of Property Services at Livin, said: “We were already aware of Mr Copeland’s concerns and undertook inspections at the property in March and July 2026 when no significant issues were identified.”
But the 60-year-old says that the ongoing housing issues have worsened his physical and mental health, with Mr Copeland saying he suffers from depression, anxiety, and chronic thrombosis.
This has been compounded by him losing his mum to dementia and sister to cancer within the last two and a half years of living in the property.
Mould at a property on Landreth Grove
(Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
"For two and a half years now I've had to battle the coldness and the mould in the house," he said.
"The floors aren't insulated, and everything in this house smells of mould.
"It's affecting my health living here."
Mould at a property in Trimdon
(Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Alongside the issues with the mould, the Trimdon resident has claimed that he can't get a new kitchen fitted because of the mould and damp problem, which he describes as a "constant cycle".
Mould on a shower curtain at the house
(Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
He added: "The kitchen fitters won't come in because there's mould and damp in the walls, so they won't work here, and I don't want a new kitchen if there's still going to be damp issues all around this house.
"I've slept in the living room for all of this time because the conditions in my bedroom aren't great.
Read more
Coundon woman banned from owning animals after cat found dead with flea infestation
Former County Durham pizza shop that saw cannabis farm bust now mouldy and for sale
Remains of six neglected dogs found in Chilton couple's home with 'smell of death'
"It's affecting my sleep, my mental health and my physical health.
"I feel ignored. I've tried to contact Livin hundreds of times over the phone, but to no avail."
This isn't the first time that Mr Copeland has had issues with properties after experiencing mould ten years ago in other properties across County Durham, including in Bishop Middleham.