A FAMILY is desperate to move out of the damp, mould-infested housing association flat they have been forced to live in for six years.

Mould lines the walls of Nashila and Zefrullah Dilmuhamud's home in Church Hill, Walthamstow.

Water constantly drips on the floor, forcing the couple to redecorate every year.

The couple say they have to spend thousands replacing water-damaged mattresses and wardrobes in damp bedrooms.

The Dilmuhamuds, who have two children aged seven and five, have spent the last six years pleading with their landlord, housing association Zush to fix the problem.

Zush, which is part of a group of companies called Places for People, has installed fans, extractor units and dehumidifiers, but the problem remains.

The family applied for a transfer in November, but due to a mix-up caused by the merger of different waiting lists, they temporarily dropped off the list.

Following an intervention from Walthamstow MP Neil Gerrard, Kush pledged to send a letter to the council in support of the Dilmuhamud's application for re-housing, but the couple say this has yet to be done.

The Dilmuhamuds believe the property is not fit for purpose and are planning to report the conditions to the council's environmental health department.

Mrs Dilmuhamud said: “We are just fed up with this, people should not have to live in these conditions.”

In a letter to the family this week Kush said the family's application has been awarded the maximum number of points for rehousing priority due to overcrowding and medical concerns.

But the housing association has stressed there is a limited supply of housing stock in Waltham Forest.

The family turned down a house in Islington as Mrs Dilmuhamud needs to care for her Leyton-based mother on a daily basis, which she has to fit around her job as a social worker, meaning she cannot live too far away.

A spokeswoman for the housing association said: "We're aware of the issues at the property, and we're working hard to make sure they're resolved as quickly as possible.

"We will have the results of a technical report next week and the regional maintenance manager has arranged an appointment to visit the property for further inspection.

"It is important to us that our customers live in the best possible environment and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.

"If anyone has any concerns they should talk to their local neighbourhood officer, or call our 24 hour freephone customer helpline on 0800 432 0002."

Click here to follow the Waltham Forest Guardian on Twitter