A dad has had to wear a facemask in his own home for the past year due to the amount of black mould in his flat.

Leslie Kemp, who says he has developed asthma as a result of his living conditions, has had letters sent from his GP to Southern Housing due to concerns over his “dangerous” ground-floor property.

The 50-year-old, from Edenbridge Drive in Sheerness, lives at the property with his partner and three children aged five, three and two.

Now, after KentOnline contacted the housing company, Mr Kemp and his family have finally been offered a new home 12 months after the problems began.

He said: “We've had nothing but trouble with Southern Housing and getting repairs.

“It all started last year. We had a major leak coming from underground in the corner living room and they told us they fixed it but it's still ongoing.

“We got decamped last year and put in a hotel for five weeks. They told us all the repairs had been done when we returned to the property, but nothing had been done at all.

“Since then we've had some surveyors out, we've had Southern Housing looking at it, we've had plumbers and electricians out, who say there is nothing they can do.

“Southern Housing is still investigating what the problem is.”

A spokesman for Southern Housing confirmed they temporarily rehoused Mr Kemp and his family during its investigations, but were unable to detect a leak and found the wet carpets were not near any potential water ingress or damp penetration.

The dad-of-three claims the flooding has left the flat riddled with black mould that has spread beneath the carpets and up the walls.

Leslie continued: “There are 97 repairs that need doing in the property and it's beyond a joke.

“The flood that started this was Southern Housing’s fault because there was a blocked drain outside and that's where the water coming into the property came from. It was racing up through the ground, but they said it came through a window.

“But if it was coming through the window there would be black mould around the window, but instead it's all in one specific corner and the damp is rising from the floor up the walls.”

He said: “We're going to the doctor's every two to three weeks to get antibiotics for one of them because of our living conditions.

“My partner has a thyroid condition and it's been worse since we've been in the property.

“I've also developed asthma and I've got tonsillitis and all sorts of other things going on with it.

“I'm allergic to the penicillin in the mould and dampness on the property.”

Leslie's GP has written two letters on behalf of his family which were sent to Southern Housing, but nothing has been done.

The letter reads: “Unfortunately, the environmental concerns have led to upper respiratory systems such as coughing and wheezing which is affecting all the members in the household.

“As you know, the issue could be potentially dangerous to small children.”

The mould isn’t the only issue the Kemp family is facing.

Leslie said: “We’re also overcrowded in the flat. The three children are in the two bedrooms we have so me and my partner sleep in the living room with all the damp and mould around us.

“We've got it growing underneath the carpet in the living room, in the bedroom, there's damp and mould in the kitchen, in the bathroom.

“The flooring was cracked and a specialist came out and said that we’ve got asbestos in the property.

“It’s been tested and there is asbestos through, in the flooring and in the walls,” said Leslie.

Southern Housing confirmed its team is “continuing to support Mr Kemp to resolve the repair issues he’s raised”.

A spokesman said: “Our specialist contractor previously investigated Mr Kemp’s complaint of damp and mould, after reports the issue was leaving his carpets wet.

“Our damp contractor has since held discussions with Mr Kemp, including providing support on how to reduce minor damp and mould.

“We’re also booked in to carry out further repair work, including kitchen and window repairs, in early February.

“Any asbestos within our homes is carefully managed in conjunction with our Asbestos Management Plan.

“We kindly ask any correspondence with our staff is kept respectful as we look to do everything we can to help Mr Kemp and his family.”