Family Wants Move from 'Cold and Mouldy' Barons Court Flat
School and doctor back claim that children’s health is being affected
Kusum Begum with one of their children. Picture: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon
January 15, 2026
A family of five who say they have suffered years of cold, damp and mould in their Barons Court home are urging their local council to rehouse them.
Elan Sumon, 38, his wife Kusum Begum, 42, claim the condition of their property is seriously affecting their health and that a move for them and their three children is necessary to prevent the issue worsening. Ms Begum said several of the family members have woken up in the night unable to breathe, and that she fears unless they are relocated “something tragic” may happen.
A spokesperson for Hammersmith and Fulham Council, the family’s landlord, said that during a visit in December no damp or mould issues were discovered in line with the national health and safety rating system.
However, they added 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 home in January 2019. Prior to that they had lived in two different flats in the same block before settling in their current, larger property.
Mr Sumon told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) during a visit to the flat late last year that the family noticed issues such as mould almost instantly.
“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.”
They say that over the subsequent years they have struggled with ongoing issues with their home, from damp and mould to leaks and draughty windows.
The family claim they have all suffered from illness and respiratory complications as a result of the condition of the flat, with letters provided by health professionals and seen by the LDRS supporting this position. These range from coughs and rough breathing to asthma, with the letters warning of potentially serious consequences for the family unless they are moved.
Mr Sumon said one of the primary concerns is the cold, and that the family used to have to sleep in heavy clothing due to the lack of heat in the property.
“We used to sleep with a jacket on,” he said. “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 concerning Mr Sumon and Ms Begum’s daughter in April last year, a consultant requested action be taken by the council “as a matter of urgency to see that this child is placed in housing that poses no further risk to their health”.
They added the daughter is “at high risk for future life-threatening asthma attacks, hospital admissions and school absence”, adding: “It is my belief that the family’s current housing situation is significantly contributing to this ongoing risk.”
Family of Elan Sumon and Kusum Begum in their West London home. Picture: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon
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 wrote 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 says 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, claimed the latter job was only done following a series of battles and that it was allegedly cancelled more than once before being completed in 2023. He also said that he believes the mould remains behind the insulation, meaning it continues to spread and affect his and his family’s health.
Asked how the condition of the flat has impacted his wellbeing, Mr Sumon said: “Eyes, nose, runny nose, everything, breathing. You can’t sleep at night.”
Ms Begum said, “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 seen emails confirming the family were told in 2023 that they were registered to be decanted to a three-bedroom home on a permanent basis. Mr Sumon also claims he was told by the council in the same year that they would be moved out within a week, but that since then progress has stalled.
The family initiated legal proceedings against Hammersmith and Fulham Council over the disrepair and in 2024 a judgement was made for Mr Sumon to be paid “an amount to be decided plus costs”.
The LDRS attended another hearing before Christmas at which Judge Vignoli was due to make an assessment of costs. The hearing was, however, adjourned due to Mr Sumon wanting to file further evidence, with a new date to be confirmed early this year.
A spokesperson for Hammersmith and Fulham Council said, “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.”
Ben Lynch - Local Democracy Reporter