A woman, Maja Klaczynska, fell seriously ill from exposure to black mold in her newly built home, leading doctors to suspect she might have cancer. Due to the uninhabitable condition of her apartment in Silvertown, East London, Maja, a 33-year-old who owns 30% of the property, had to relocate after experiencing severe headaches and joint pain.
Despite also suffering from a persistent cough and fever, medical professionals initially could not determine the cause of her symptoms and conducted CT and PET scans to rule out leukemia or lymphoma, which fortunately were not the underlying issues.
Moving into her flat in July 2022 to fulfill her dream of homeownership in London, Maja was devastated to find her belongings covered in mold, prompting her to seek medical help. Following several failed inspections that dismissed her concerns, Maja sought legal recourse through Hodge Jones & Allen against the landlord, Peabody Trust, for neglecting her health and safety.
After independent experts confirmed the presence of extensive black mold in her residence, Maja was forced to vacate the premises in October 2023 and endured temporary accommodations until she could move back in with her partner. Expressing her distress over losing her possessions and being displaced from her home, Maja emphasized the nightmare she endured throughout the ordeal.
Peabody expressed regret for Maja’s ordeal and clarified that repairs were completed in January, with the responsibility falling on the builder to rectify the situation. Bahareh Amani, Maja’s legal representative, asserted that Peabody owed her compensation for the distress caused by the mold exposure, highlighting Maja’s resilience in seeking justice for her harrowing experience.