A FAMILY who live in a building with a severe damp problem claim their flat is making them ill.

Maryam Abdalbagi, 29, lives in Shropshire House on the Shires Estate, in Edmonton, with her husband Mohammad Nasiri, their son, nine, and daughter, six.

They moved into the two-bedroom flat in 2000 and soon discovered the building had a widespread damp problem. Now they are forced to redecorate every year to mask mould growing around the windows in every room in the house.

Shires Estate is managed on behalf of the council by Enfield Homes. Managers visited Shropshire House last week and decided the entire building needed to be clad.

Meanwhile, Mr Nasiri suffers from joint problems in his knees and hands and claims his doctor sent a letter to Enfield Homes asking for them to be moved, while their son also suffered from breathing problems because of the damp in his bedroom.

Ms Abdalbagi claimed: "Enfield Homes have done nothing. They have visited about four or five times and they will do a job if it is quick, but it it takes time and if it costs a lot they won't. I don't really understand what that association does.

"They sent us a letter after 14 days of receiving the doctor's letter, but they just say we think the flat is suitable for you. They don't look to see what the problem is."

The couple are some of the tenants who met with Enfield Homes chief executive Bob Heapy on May 26 to tell him about their problems.

Councillor Kris Brown, who also visited the estate with Edmonton MP Andy Love, said he had received about 30 complaints about the area, which is a notorious hotspot for antisocial behaviour.

Some residents have also reported finding human excrement in a stairwell.

Cllr Brown said: "Despite a very small number of units being brought up to a fairly decent standard, most are in a very dire state with water leaking into the property."

A spokeswoman for Enfield Homes said: "Enfield Homes works closely with the residents to make sure their housing needs are being fully met. We have responded to the priorities of residents at Shropshire House and there is a programme of work scheduled for renewing the lifts."

She said further improvements would depend on a successful Audit Commission inspection to qualify for £137 million in Government Decent Homes funding.