Local authority defends its approach to checking for mould after coroner report into death of council tenant

Mansfield District Council has insisted it was “diligent in carrying out appropriate works” on a 52-year-old council tenant’s house before she died from lung disease in June 2023, after a coroner concluded that the death may have been caused by mould in the property.

A Prevention of Future Deaths (PFD) report issued by the Coroner for Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire, Neema Sharma, in November said a post-mortem examination undertaken in August 2023 gave the cause of Jane Bennett’s death as ‘1a Acute exacerbation of non-specific interstitial pneumonitis’. 

The Coroner said: “The cause of her [Mrs Bennett’s] interstitial pneumonitis is not clear at this stage, but both the Pathologist and the Respiratory Consultant.... in his report to the Coroner dated 26.9.23….. are clear that the mould may be causal or contributory to her death. This will be further explored at a forthcoming Inquest, date to be finalised.”

Sharma warned that in her opinion there was “a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken”.

She added: “I am concerned that mould in Mrs. Bennett’s property and other properties in that area owned and maintained by Mansfield District Council may pose a risk that future deaths could occur. I ask for the aforesaid properties to be inspected for mould and action be taken to ensure any further exposure to mould by any tenant is minimised.”

The council was required to respond to the PFD report by 19 January 2024.

Jill Finnesey, Head of Housing at Mansfield, said the council was deeply saddened by the death of Jane Bennett and offered its sincere condolences to her family.

Finnesey said: ““In our response to the coroner, the council seeks to provide certainty that we responded to inspections, successfully completed all repairs, including those relating to damp and mould, in a timely manner. We want to give assurance that the council was diligent in carrying out appropriate works to her property during her short tenancy.”

Mrs Bennett had lived in the house from October 2022 until her final admission to hospital in late May 2023. She had identified severe mould in the property.

Finnesey said: “With regards to the case of Mrs Bennett, the council was made aware of a small amount of mould that was isolated to the bedroom drawers and wardrobe in her property. This was reported and investigated early on in her tenancy. A zero-tolerance approach was taken to mould and proactive mould treatment was undertaken on 11 January following an inspection on 5 January as a preventative measure to minimise any risk to Mrs Bennett’s health and wellbeing.

“We have also evidenced that the property had 17 repairs and maintenance jobs carried out during the tenancy and that Mrs Bennett was provided with advice and guidance throughout her tenancy to support her to manage moisture levels.”

Finnesey said the council had provided evidence to support its view that the living conditions in Mrs Bennett’s home were to a good standard.

“This is supported by the Savills stock condition survey carried out at the property on 6 December 2021 and the timeline of inspections and repairs from October 2022 to April 2023 that the council submitted to the coroner,” she added.

The council wrote to 64 nearby residents, at the coroner's request, asking to conduct home inspections and offer guidance on the best ways to address mould and damp.

It has conducted 41 inspections of those properties thus far and said it would continue to work with the occupants to ensure homes are maintained to the standards set by the Housing Regulator.

Finnesey said: “Other proactive measures the council has undertaken include a social media campaign in November 2023 covering damp and mould that reached nearly 90,000 people. Information on this matter was also included in our annual report to residents which was printed and distributed to every tenant in 2023.”

The coroner will now review the information provided by the council, and Mansfield said it would continue to cooperate with any requests for information.

Harry Rodd