AN MP is launching a campaign to ‘Stamp Out Damp’ in social housing and privately rented homes across York.

York Central Labour MP Rachael Maskell said she had received a huge volume of casework from people experiencing problems with damp and mould in their homes - some council or housing association properties and others houses owned by private landlords.

She said she had dealt with a number of distressing cases, including one involving a mother and two children who were sleeping on the sofa as their bedroom was uninhabitable because of the damp.

In some cases the damp and mould had presented a major problem to peoples’ health, and some had been admitted to hospital, and she wanted a zero tolerance approach, with all landlords acting quickly when made aware of problems.

She said she had met student representatives from York’s two universities this week and raised her concerns with the Prime Minister.

“It feels like we are going to the Victorian era,” she said.

“In such a rich and modern nation, no-one should be living in these appalling conditions. I have been really shocked to learn that there are so many people in our city who are living in conditions that are simply unacceptable...

“This is a massive public health scandal.”

She said she was concerned that some people were frightened to speak out in case there were repercussions from their landlord, with some worried about ‘revenge evictions'.

She warned: “If I am made aware of any revenge evictions, I will fight tooth and nail to help.”

She urged "anyone out there who is suffering in silence" to get in touch with her office on 01904 623713, and she would then "get on the case".

Cllr Margaret Wells, Labour spokesperson for housing at City of York Council, said everyone deserved a decent warm home to live in but sadly many families living in rented properties in York did not have this.

“They are living in horrendously damp conditions, with walls blackened by mould and paint and wallpaper peeling, destroying their clothing and furniture and damaging their heath,” she said.

“ It shouldn’t be happening in 2018. We need to do something now.”