A single mum and her young son are at a crossroads after their health deteriorated from black mould they found growing in the carpets of their rental.
Genevieve, 35, and her 10-year-old son moved into the property in north Brisbane in 2023.
About a year into the lease, they both began suffering strange symptoms.
‘My son already has asthma but his respiratory problems have gotten worse and he’s begun getting nosebleeds,’ Genevieve told Daily Mail Australia.
‘I have had allergy symptoms like watery eyes, difficulty catching my breath.’
Genevieve then made a shocking discovery.
Her carpets contained black mould – a fungus that grows in warm, damp areas that can trigger allergic reactions, respiratory problems and even chronic illnesses.
Genevieve immediately emailed her real estate agent but said she has received little help in removing it.
Genevieve, 35, and her 10-year-old son moved into their rental in north Brisbane in 2023
She found black mould under the carpet (pictured) and later on the walls and her son’s belongings and alerted the issue to her landlord – who is now considering his options
Despite her best efforts to get rid of the mould herself, it came back with a vengeance, this time contaminating the walls and her son’s belongings in his bedroom.
‘I sent several emails (to the real estate agent) in March, April and May about the mould and they sent people out to test it,’ she said.
‘We’ve had no follow-up since then. The real estate said the landlord is working out his options, but it’s been three weeks.’
Genevieve said the shortage of affordable homes in Brisbane meant they had decided to stay in the property for now, despite her son’s worsening health.
‘We’re both taking Nasonex, a steroid nasal spray, at night before we go to bed which we were prescribed by the GP,’ she said.
‘It’s specifically for mould allergies – a problem neither of us had before.
‘I’m not a doctor but all the health problems seem to be related to the mould spores.’
Then, Genevieve received a call from her ‘guardian angel’.
Genevieve (pictured) moved into the home in 2023
The mould resurfaced in March despite Genevieve’s efforts to remove it (pictured)
‘The agent who helped me find this home reached out to me,’ she said.
‘She called me because I’d applied for another property and she wanted to check how we were doing and if we needed any help.
‘She’s a remarkable human and incredibly compassionate which is really rare in the property world.’
The woman was able to find a new home for Genevieve and her son.
‘It’s all been renovated and it’s a very beautiful, freestanding, two-bedroom rental but the rent is almost $100 more than I pay here,’ Genevieve explained.
The single mum is worried her landlord will withhold her bond to remove the mould and pay for new carpets, despite her complaints early on in the lease.
Without that safety net, Genevieve will struggle to pay the bond for her new home, especially considering she will need to pick up extra shifts to cover the higher rent.
Queensland’s Rental Tenancies Authority states the burden of who pays for cleaning mould and fixing any damage ‘depends on how the mould appeared in the first place’.
Genevieve is worried for the health of her son (pictured together) as he is asthmatic and the black mould in their rental appears to be making his symptoms worse
Genevieve has started a GoFundMe to help cover the costs of moving to a mould-free home
‘If mould is a result of problems with the property – for example, a leaking roof, or water damage caused by leaking pipework, it is the property manager/owner’s responsibility to address the mould and make any necessary repairs,’ it said.
‘If the tenant has caused the mould to appear – for example, by allowing steam to build up in a bathroom without proper ventilation and/or regular cleaning, they are responsible for cleaning it and paying for any damages that the mould has caused.’
A friend recommended Genevieve start a GoFundMe to help with the upcoming costs.
In a post on the fundraiser, Genevieve described her new home as ‘a fresh start we deeply need – one with light, space, and safety’.
‘Moving, as you know, comes with costs: rental bond, upfront rent, moving expenses.
‘I’m not in a position to access credit or loans, and asking for financial help is not something I do easily. I’ve carried shame around this. But I also believe in the power of community and vulnerability.
‘If you feel moved to support us, any amount – big or small – would mean the world. Your donation will go directly toward our bond and moving costs to help us settle into a healthy, stable home where we can continue our healing.’
The fundraiser has already received more than $2,600 from 35 donors, which Genevieve and her son are grateful for.
