A COUPLE say their lives have been made hell by a housing association which has failed to address issues with damp and mould.

Carly and Wayne Stevens, both 36, say they have experienced nothing but problems since moving into their bungalow in Maltings Lane in Witham.

The couple were forced to relocate from their first-floor flat back in November to allow Carly to undergo surgery on her back.

But the move has backfired on the couple who say they're new home, which is managed by Eastlight Community Housing, is filled with mould and damp issues.

Carly said: "We were a bit suspicious at the start when our move date was delayed because apparently they needed to replaster and repaint a wall which had been urinated on by a dog.

"But the neighbours said the previous occupier didn't even have a dog.

"We'd only been in for a few weeks when we noticed our clothes were getting damp in drawers.

"They just seemed to be getting wetter and wetter and even started going mouldy.

"When my husband pulled one of the drawers from the wall you could see a line of wet running down it. There was even a puddle at the bottom of one of them.

"We were told to keep our windows open and heating on but when someone actually came to look at it, they found there was holes in the brickwork outside and the fascia is all rotten."

Carly says the issue, which is becoming worse, was first reported to Eastlight back in early December.

A contractor has been sent out to look at the problem but no further action has been taken.

The mould and damp has forced both Carly and Wayne out of their bedroom and into their living room, where they are both sleeping on two-seater sofas.

Carly added: "I have a breathing problem so I can't go into our bedroom because it makes me cough.

"But sleeping on a sofa is no good for either of us. I have a slipped disc and narrowing of the spinal column while my husband suffers with sciatica.

"I've gone from being in constant pain to constant agony.

"I feel like we keep getting fobbed off by Greenfields and it's all been so stressful.

"We had to move so I could have my surgery but we are now asking why did we even bother?

"I won't be able to have surgery anyway until I can go back to sleeping on a bed."

A spokesman for Eastlight said: "We’re sorry that Mr and Mrs Stevens are experiencing issues with damp in their home.

"We have visited them today to agree next steps, which we will complete as soon as we safely can.