A FAMILY of five from Milford Haven say they’re forced to live in a two-bedroom council flat that is full of mould. 

Holly Elliott, 24, from Milford Haven claims her children have faced a number of health problems due to the mouldy conditions. 

Latest figures show she’s one of the 5,000 households on the social housing waiting list in Pembrokeshire.  The number waiting on this list has increased by more than 50 per cent since 2018.  

Pembrokeshire Council says it is struggling with a national shortage in council housing which is felt more acutely in this county.  And housing charities are calling for authorities to build more affordable housing to help those in need of a new home.

Holly’s family have been waiting for a new house from the council for almost three years. She began looking when she was two-months pregnant with her second child. He’s now two-years old. 

“My heart breaks for my son. He’s had problems with his chest ever since we bought him into this flat. He’s been back and forth to the doctors and still nothing helps,” Holly said.

“How they expect a family to live and fit in a tiny two-bedroom mouldy flat is beyond me.”

Since the family joined the council housing waiting list, they’ve had a third child – Ashley. Holly says he’s also suffered several health issues.

And while the family try and move out – they were given a glimmer of hope:

“A year ago I was moved up to the gold band. I was told my house was overcrowded and wasn’t an ideal place to have three small children,” added Holly.

The gold band is for families that need to move out of their current home.

Despite being put in that band – they are still living in the two bedroom flat.  

“It breaks me. I just want a nice home. This isn’t a home, it’s just a place we’re stuck in. 

“I’m just asking for a safe home where my kids can breathe and sleep properly,” explained Holly. 

This is the reality for a number of households across Pembrokeshire.  

Sasha Dalkin, her partner Boz Norris and their daughter were finally moved into a new house in May after almost three years of being on council waiting lists.  

They said their previous house also had mould problems which were causing issues for the couple as well as their infant daughter.  

“We were on the bronze band for so long. I can’t figure out why,” Sasha said. 

“I had sent the council and local MP’s pictures of the damp in our house. We even had letters from the doctors explaining why we needed to move.” 

The bronze band, according to the council, is based on want rather than needing to move home. 

Sasha continued: “We had inspectors out who said it was definitely rising damp. These conditions were not only unsafe for me and Boz but they were extremely unsafe for our 14 month old daughter.” 

Boz also had issues with mobility and their previous house did not have any adaptations, making living difficult for him, even in his own house.  

The family have since moved to a new house. 

It comes as latest figures show that in the year to March 2023, Pembrokeshire saw the smallest number of houses completed for more than a decade at only 164. One of the smallest numbers since 1996. 

Over the last 2 years, less than 10% of those completed homes were by registered social landlords or the local authority – the smallest proportion for a decade.  

In 2022, information obtained by a freedom of information request shows the average wait on a social housing waiting list was more than 700 days. The longest was 10,377 days – 28 years.  

Councillor Joshua Beynon, who represents Pembroke Dock, explained why the lists were getting bigger:  

“I think this has been made worse by coronavirus, the number of second homes in Pembrokeshire along with a national shortage which has seen people travel across the UK.” 

He added that Pembrokeshire County Council is looking to develop 350 new build housing units by 2027.  

“I think the council needs to continue to work with partners to increase the range of affordable housing projects including the development of Community Land Trusts and making available smaller plots of council land for those seeking self-build opportunities.” 

The council has 400 affordable housing units identified in their business plan with sites in Johnston, Tiers Cross, Milford Haven, Haverfordwest, Tenby, Newport and Neyland in the active work programme.  

“They are currently building homes on the sites in Johnston and Tiers Cross with completions later this year.” 

Other sites in the programme include the former Haycastle School Site, the former Hakin School Site, the former Hubberston School site and the former Riverside Hostel in Pembroke.  

According to council figures, the total estimated cost of delivering this programme is £115m with external funding of £57m. 

In response to the ever growing waiting list for homes, Pembrokeshire Council confirmed the area’s struggling with a shortage of housing.  

“An increase in second homes and short-term holiday lets, due to both its natural beauty and changes in the behaviour of the housing market, has led to an increase in house prices and a shrinking private rented sector  – a combination that has increased pressures on the social housing sector. 

“We have seen significant increases in the number of those in temporary accommodation year on year, with a 5.1% increase between 2019 and 2020, 87.8% between 2020 and 2021, and 171.4% between 2021 and 2022. 

“By 2030 Pembrokeshire County Council should hopefully have completed 350 new builds if not more – as long as there is sufficient social housing grant available.”