Housing Trust apologies to tenant after delays to remove black mould
The South Australian Ombudsman has found the Housing Trust failed to ensure a property met "reasonable standards of health and safety" despite multiple reports of black mould from the tenant.
The South Australian Ombudsman has criticized the Housing Trust for failing to address a tenant's multiple complaints about black mould in her home over a four-year period. The Ombudsman, Emily Strickland, found that the trust's handling of the issue was unreasonable and did not meet the tenant's reasonable standards of health and safety.
Despite the tenant's concerns about her lung condition and the worsening mould contamination, the Housing Trust did not get the property tested until April 2023, and no significant remedial work was carried out until the tenant moved out and the authority relocated her to another property. The Ombudsman recommended that the Housing Trust change its complaints handling procedure and take immediate action to remove the mould contamination, which had worsened significantly over the years.
The trust acknowledged the ombudsman's findings and apologized to the tenant, stating they are working to remediate the property.
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