A FATHER “cannot believe” a council has let his family live in such poor conditions.

Chris Newman said his council home in Drove Crescent, Portslade, has mould all over it and he and his family are suffering with health problems as a result.

The 34-year-old said: “Our two-year-old has been fighting off an infection since November.

“Our youngest was born on January 17 and he already has a cold.

“He gets a tight chest and is coughing a lot when he’s in our bedroom.

“The mould is particularly bad in there, but it’s all over the house.”

Chris said he has contacted Brighton and Hove City Council more than once about the mould, but no action has been taken since last year.

He said: “At first the council said they were not going to help and it was our problem because they had already been round to paint the walls.

“But the last time they did that was in September and it gets worse in the winter months.

“Someone from the council came round last week just to see who was living in the house and we took her round and showed her every problem. They said someone would get back to us the same day and no one did. It’s terrible.

“I wouldn’t mind if it just made the house messy but we’re talking about our health being at risk.”

Chris’s partner Hayley gave birth to Roman by caesarean section and she has to be in their bedroom a lot at the moment as she is not very mobile after the operation.

Chris said the whole family suffers from asthma and their two-year-old Benjamin was put on asthma pumps last year.

He said: “We had a health visitor over this week and they said the council really has to sort it out because we have a newborn and a two-year-old.

“There are so many health problems you can get from breathing it in. We are mainly just very upset – We pay our national insurance and we pay our taxes and the council have basically turned around and said it’s our problem, and they don’t care.

“I can’t believe they would let someone, especially kids, live in these conditions.”

Chris said the family reported a hole in their roof to the council two years ago, and they have not had a response.

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: “We are aware of possible issues in the property and a building supervisor will be inspecting the property next week.”