Elan Sumon and his family claim they have suffered years of cold, damp and mould in their West London home and are urging their local council to rehouse them
Carrington Walker GAU Writer and Ben Lynch Local Democracy Reporter
12:27, 14 Jan 2026
Ms Begum fears for the ongoing impact of the flat’s condition on her kids’ health(Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon)
A family of five who claim to have endured years of cold, damp and mould in their home, are pleading for their council to rehouse them.
Elan Sumon, 38, and his wife Kusum Begum, 42, argue that the state of their Baron’s Court property, in West London, is damaging their health and that a move for them and their three children is necessary to prevent the situation from deteriorating.
Ms Begum shared that several family members have woken up in the night unable to breathe, adding she feared that, unless they are relocated, “something tragic” may happen.
The family moved into the Baron’s Court flat in 2019(Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon)
A spokesperson for Hammersmith and Fulham Council, the family’s landlord, said that during a visit in December, no damp or mould issues were found in accordance with the national health and safety rating system.
However, they conceded that they remain “deeply concerned” about the welfare of the family’s children and will continue to carry out repairs when necessary.
Mr Sumon and his family moved into their current home in January 2019. Before this, they had resided in two different flats in the same block before settling in their current, larger property, reports MyLondon.
During a visit to the flat late last year, Mr Sumon told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that the family noticed problems such as mould almost immediately after moving in.
“After we moved in, we got the key, we just found the mould and endless repair problems. It was like slowly, slowly, the more we stayed the more we discovered the problems, the more we stayed the more we discovered the problems.”
When the LDRS visited the flat the floor in particular was noticeably cold(Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon)
The family alleges that they have grappled with persistent issues in their home over the years, including dampness, mould, leaks and draughty windows.
They claim that all members of the family have suffered from illness and respiratory complications due to the flat’s condition, supported by letters from health professionals seen by the LDRS. These range from coughs and rough breathing to asthma, with the letters warning of potentially serious consequences for the family unless they are relocated.
Mr Sumon continues that one of the main concerns is the cold, stating that the family used to sleep in heavy clothing due to the lack of heat in the property.
“We used to sleep with a jacket on,” he said, adding, “Not only one layer, underneath was a fleece top, then a jumper, then a vest.”
In one of the letters, provided by Royal Brompton Hospital regarding Mr Sumon and Ms Begum’s daughter in April last year, a consultant requested the council take action “as a matter of urgency to see that this child is placed in housing that poses no further risk to their health”.
They added that the daughter is “at high risk for future life-threatening asthma attacks, hospital admissions and school absence”, stating: “It is my belief that the family’s current housing situation is significantly contributing to this ongoing risk.”
‘Persistently cold conditions’
West London Free School Primary, which all three of the children have attended, has also written on several occasions raising concerns about the property.
In one of these, dated last July, the Deputy Headteacher penned a letter supporting the family’s request to be rehoused.
“All three children suffer from many medical conditions that have been formally diagnosed by their local GP and further medical specialists,” they wrote. “The persistently cold conditions in their home are exacerbating their symptoms, disrupting the children’s sleep and thereby education, and negatively impacting the entire family’s health and mental well-being.”
The council states it has received two repair call-outs in the last 12 months regarding damp and mould, one to install additional extractor fans last July and the second due to paint damage in December.
It has also said the home has an EPC rating of C, deemed to be a good score, and that no structural defects are attributed to the property which may contribute to damp and mould.
When the LDRS visited the property there was limited visible mould, though the floor in particular was cold despite a heater being placed in front of our reporter. The council has carried out a number of works over the years, including cleaning off mould and installing insulation.
Mr Sumon, however, alleged that the latter task was only accomplished after a series of struggles and was reportedly cancelled more than once before its completion in 2023. He also expressed his concern that mould still lurks behind the insulation, continuing to spread and potentially affecting his family’s health.
When asked about the impact of the flat’s condition on his health, Mr Sumon described: “Eyes, nose, runny nose, everything, breathing. You can’t sleep at night.”
Ms Begum voiced her fears, saying: “The biggest concern is [three of us have] woken up not being able to breathe. So we are worried that one day someone’s going to pass away. I woke up…unable to breathe. Now we’re afraid, especially in winter when they go to sleep, if none of us are awake or we don’t hear them struggling to breathe in the night that something tragic happens.”
The LDRS has viewed emails confirming that the family were informed in 2023 that they were registered to be relocated to a three-bedroom home permanently. Mr Sumon also alleges that he was told by the council in the same year that they would be moved within a week, but progress has since been slow.
The family began legal action against Hammersmith and Fulham Council over the disrepair, and in 2024 a judgement was made for Mr Sumon to receive “an amount to be decided plus costs”.
The LDRS attended another hearing before Christmas, where Judge Vignoli was set to assess costs. However, the hearing was postponed due to Mr Sumon’s desire to submit additional evidence, with a new date to be confirmed early this year.
A spokesperson for Hammersmith and Fulham Council stated: “While we cannot comment on the ongoing legal proceedings, we are continuing to address and deal with the issues raised by the family.
“In December 2025, we inspected the property and found no damp or mould issues in line with the national Housing Health and Safety Rating System. However, we remain deeply concerned about the welfare of this family’s children and are monitoring the situation closely. We will continue to carry out repairs when needed to ensure the family’s home remains safe and warm.”
