Family forced to live in a tent after mould infestation makes house "unliveable"
<p>A family of five have been forced to live in a tent in their backyard after their home was overrun with an infestation of black mould that was making their children sick. </p>
<p>Andrew Walsh-Baldwin and his wife Angalina took the drastic measure to move into the backyard of their $480,000 property in Victoria after the toxic mould in their newly purchased home caused all three of their young kids to fall ill.</p>
<p>Their home has been rendered "unliveable" by construction experts, who said their home has not allowed for proper drainage during the unprecedented amount of rain. </p>
<p>Ms Walsh-Baldwin broke down in tears when talking to Nine News, as she said "it's been freezing" living in the tent.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A family of five is living in a tent, after heavy rain caused black mould to flourish in their home. </p>
<p>Serious building defects in the newly purchased property are also contributing to the spread, which is making the kids sick. <a href="https://twitter.com/reid_butler9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@reid_butler9</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9News?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9News</a> <a href="https://t.co/IR1AqLNpI3">pic.twitter.com/IR1AqLNpI3</a></p>
<p>— 9News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) <a href="https://twitter.com/9NewsMelb/status/1594595429681098759?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
<p>"This was supposed to be our home," she said.</p>
<p>Her husband Baldwin said, "The other week we got 190ml (of rain). I can't believe... we've got to this point."</p>
<p>"The kids have been getting sick and missed a full term of kinder," he said. "You just feel inadequate now because, as a parent, we've failed."</p>
<p>Dr Cameron Jones of Biological Health Services, who inspected the house, said it was among the worst cases of mould he'd ever seen. </p>
<p>"When I've done moisture testing on the timbers, they're showing anywhere from 20 to 30 per cent plus," he said, before revealing the safe level is a maximum of 15 per cent.</p>
<p>Building inspector Zeher Khalil, who is helping the family out free of charge, said what he found at the house is "unbelievable". </p>
<p>"To pay $480,000 for this house, I mean I just feel like I've been ripped off," he said.</p>
<p>The family is insured with Allianz, but their claims were rejected because the company said the defects were pre-existing, with Ms Walsh-Baldwin saying, "We've got rights too."</p>
<p><em>Image credits: Nine News</em></p>
