Asthma 'exacerbated' by house

Suzanne Nadin, 59, attributed her health woes to damp and mould she says plagued her Tikipunga house. Photo / Michael Cunningham

A Whangarei woman with chronic asthma was admitted to intensive care at least four times while living in a mouldy, damp Housing New Zealand property.

Suzanne Nadin, 59, finally moved from the Tikipunga property in February at the recommendation of her doctor.

The house was damp, mouldy, poorly insulated and had no curtains, Ms Nadin said.

"They patched it and it still got mouldy," she said. "They didn't get rid of the big issues."

Te Whareora O Tikipunga practice nurse Pru Martin said notes from Ms Nadin's doctor, who had since left the practice, showed a recommendation for her to move to a home which was part of the Healthy Homes Tai Tokerau project.

Her asthma had been "exacerbated" by the house, Ms Martin said.

Housing New Zealand spokeswoman Bryony Hilless said ceiling insulation and a hot-water cylinder wrap were installed at the house in late 2010.

"Our records also confirm we visited the property on a regular basis and no specific maintenance issues or requests were noted as requiring follow-up.

"We have also found no specific references to the property impacting on the health of Ms Nadin."

While there was a woodfire in the house, under the Residential Tenancies Act there was no obligation for landlords to install curtains.

Ms Nadin and her partner, Dennam Dette, 70, stayed at the Housing New Zealand property because they liked the area and thought the issues would eventually be sorted.

Since moving to a private rental in Otangarei, which costs about $100 extra a week, Ms Nadin had only been into hospital twice.

"This is her life saver," Mr Dette said.