Harold Hill salon owner slams Havering Council over mould

A salon owner has claimed that leaks and mould issues in her council-rented property have hampered her business.

Chantelle Mcangus, 31, who runs the Heavenly Beauty and Tanning Salon in Petersfield Avenue, Harold Hill, leased the premises from Havering Council in April 2021.

She said she was not made aware of any problems at the time.

She claimed that mould started appearing soon after but the problem has become more extreme since last December, according to Chantelle, when she faced leakages from cracks in the ceiling. 

A picture of the cracked ceiling in Chantelle’s salon (Image: Chantelle Mcangus)

Water started seeping in from the floor too, she added, with even her toilet affected by mould.

She said: “It became so bad I have had to close three rooms that I cannot use anymore. I am losing out on money, so I have had to lower my staff hours.”

The resulting financial challenges have made it difficult for Chantelle to run her business and afford the rent, she claimed.

“It’s been so stressful it has made me ill. I don’t sleep because I am worried about it all the time.”

The mould damaged the toilet in the salon (Image: Chantelle Mcangus)

She claimed to have reached out to the council multiple times.

Chantelle accused the authority of trying to get the issues fixed “on the cheap”.

On one occasion she said she was directed to the building’s insurance company, who then sent out surveyors to look at the property.

The insurance company, she claimed, told her that she is not covered for these damages as the building had not been maintained properly by the landlords.

She added: “So basically I do not have any help whatsoever and the council just does not want to take responsibility.”

Chantelle said she had to spend money to paint over the damaged walls, and she is now looking for tenants to take over the three rooms from her.

Chantelle claimed that she had to paint her walls and try to cover some of the mould damage (Image: Chantelle Mcangus)

In addition to the mould and the damp, Chantelle told the Recorder that the council sent her a notice for non-payment of rent even when she claimed to not have any arrears.

A Havering Council spokesperson said: “The council is working with the business to resolve the mould and damp issues.

“We are looking into the issue of rent arrears and will be in contact with the business once we have established what has happened.”