A 32 year-old man has developed a life-threatening blood infection caused by household mould, after living in a fungus-infected property where spores were ‘covered up’ with paint.
Matthew Langsworth, from Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, spent a decade flagging black mould in the bathroom, kitchen and bedroom to his landlord, but he has claimed it was ‘redecorated over’.
Now, he has developed a condition that’s made him so breathless he can ‘hardly walk’ and last year triggered a collapsed lung that resulted in lethal sepsis.
The condition, called invasive aspergillosis, can be caused by inhaling fungal spores which consequently spread from the lungs to the blood and other areas of the body.
Tests have reportedly confirmed that Mr Langsworth’s infection has also spread to his gut.
While doctors have reportedly confirmed mould exposure is behind Mr Langsworth’s health issues, he said he’s faced with the choice of ‘dying or being homeless’ — as the flat, which is subsidised by the local council, is deemed ‘fit for living’ by officials.
Social housing provider Stonewater claimed that they replaced the ‘entirety of his bathroom and kitchen’ following a leak in 2023 and more recently installed new flooring.
They said a survey this month found mould on the shower curtain, the bathroom sink waste overflow and in the washing machine powder drawer.
Matthew Langsworth, 32, has developed a potentially deadly infection after inhaling mould spores that were ‘hidden’ in his home.
They also discovered that the extractor fan in the bathroom wasn’t working, but claim that had not been reported to them previously.
‘My life has just been physically, mentally and financially ruined by this ordeal,’ said Mr Langsworth.
‘Before all this happened I lived a very active life. I was in the gym two to three times a week.
‘I would go on six to seven mile walks at the weekend. Now I can’t even walk to the shop without having to stop.
‘I’d describe it as the worst experience of my life. I’d describe it as hell on earth.
‘In 2013 I first noticed it and they did a batch of works which obviously did not eradicate it. I’ve had continuous intestinal problems and skin conditions.
‘I’ve now been told by a doctor everything I’ve experienced over the last 10 years is all mould related.’
Mr Langsworth indentified alarming patches of mould surrounding the pipes in the kitchen, all over the bathroom, in the main bedroom and in the hallways.
‘My main bedroom, every wall has marks just on,’ he said.
Mr Langsworth claimed that the extensive mould in his property was ‘redecorated over’ rather than treated appropriately.
The mould was said to be in the bathroom, bedroom, kitchen and hallways – affecting around ‘75%’ of the flat.
‘Pretty much 75 per cent of the property has mould on it at the moment.
‘The landlord’s position is “we’re going to wipe this and it isn’t a significant issue”.’
In August 2023, he vacated his flat for three months while works were completed on leaks and black mould.
But within two weeks of returning his lung collapsed due to pneumonia, leaving him hospitalised for five days.
Within three hours of being discharged, he developed deadly septic shock — an extreme immune system reaction to an infection — and was rushed back to hospital for a week.
‘The doctors were wiping tears from my eyes because I thought I was going to die,’ he said.
‘The doctor told me my body was doing its best fighting it and then decided it couldn’t cope anymore.
‘The mould has attacked my body.’
He added: ‘They’ve [the council] declared the property fit for living which means I’m not eligible for re-housing. If I leave the property I make myself intentionally homeless. So [my choice is] die, or be homeless.
Some 5,000 cases of asthma and 8,500 new respiratory diseases every year in England are said to be due to household mould, according to Government figures.
‘It took until April this year for the landlord to agree to do further works to the property despite what happened.
‘Thankfully I have a friend who let me stay at her house for three months straight to try and stop me getting critically ill again.
‘She hears my breathing gets really, really bad just walking up and down the stairs.
‘I get really out of breath, I get into a sweat and I end up vomiting.’
He added: ‘I want to ask the council: “would you live there with your children knowing that this is happening to a person?” I already know the answer would be no. It’s unforgivable.’
Living in mouldy properties is known to cause a range of health problems including respiratory infections like aspergillus, asthma and allergies.
Mould — a microscopic fungus — causes these conditions by releasing thousands of microscopic toxic particles into the atmosphere.
Signs that you may be affected by household mould include a prolonged cough, wheeze or feeling short of breath.
Two-year-old Awaab Ishak died from a respiratory condition caused by black mould at his home in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, in 2020
Shocking images reveal the extent of the black mould spores in the flat where tragic Awaab Ishak lived. The toilet was leaking because of defective plumbing and continuously discharging.
Other symptoms include worsening of asthma and other respiratory conditions or those that involve the inflammation of the airways.
Government figures show that in 2019, roughly 5,000 cases of asthma and approximately 8,500 lower respiratory infections among children and adults were linked to household damp and mould in England.
It’s thought that between one to two per cent of new cases of hayfever are caused by damp and mould every year.
In December 2020, two-year-old Awaab Ishak died after prolonged exposure to mould in his Rochdale home.
He lived in a one-bedroom flat with his father and stepmother.
The family reported the mould problem to the housing association that provided the flat — Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) — three years before the little boy’s death, but was advised to ‘paint over it’.
In June 2020, Awaab’s father hit the landlords with a legal claim over the recurring mould, but repairs had to wait until the case was settled.#
Mould in the flat contributed to Awaab developing a continuous cough that meant he couldn’t breathe through his nose in the final weeks of his life
Awaab was taken to Rochdale Urgent Care Centre on 19 December that year with shortness of breath, and died a few days later.
A Stonewater spokesperson said: ‘We have worked incredibly hard since Mr Langsford first reported a minor leak in his home back in 2023 to ensure that the water damage that did occur has been completely rectified. This work has included replacing in their entirety both his kitchen and bathroom and more recently installing new flooring throughout.
‘Mr Langsford remains concerned that his home is affected by damp and mould and that this is affecting his health. We visited the flat as recently as 2nd December 2024 to complete a further damp and mould survey.
‘The surveyor didn’t identify any structural defects in Mr Langford’s home, but mould was present.
‘ We will of course continue to work with Mr Langsford to complete any further repairs that may be needed and continue to provide further reassure that his home is free from damp and mould.’
