Southbank, Melbourne: Family left without home for seven months after black mould nightmare
The family’s nightmare after being forced from their home for seven months due to black mold damage: ‘It’s immoral’
- A family’s home was damaged by black mold
- They say their insurance doesn’t cover repairs
A family has been left homeless for seven months after black mold took over their home.
Carolyn and Philippe Bechervaise, as well as their two sons, aged five and eight, had to flee their newly purchased apartment in Southbank, Melbourne CBD, late last year.
The couple had discovered black mold in their home after their sons developed ulcers and had asthma attacks last September.
The damage was caused by a leaking washing machine in the apartment above.
Since then, the family has been moving into temporary housing and awaiting an agreement with their strata insurer, CHU.
Carolyn and Philippe Bechervaise (above) and their two sons, ages five and eight, have moved into temporary accommodation since their apartment was infested with mold
The insurance company had gutted the affected parts of the apartment, but the Bechervaise family says the response has since been “unfair” and “immoral.”
“We have absolutely no control over it and you feel completely helpless,” Ms Bechervaise said Nine News.
“Initially we were told we would be out for six to eight weeks and now it’s seven months later.”
Mr. and Mrs. Bechervaise argue that CHU will only provide the family with less than half the cost to repair their apartment and that they cannot afford to add more to their mortgage.
“They purposely made it extremely difficult for us to get anywhere,” Bechervaise said.
The couple says their insurance company, CHU, will not cover the cost of repairing their apartment (pictured, the gutted apartment full of mold)
CHU offered the family about $52,000, but the couple say the cheapest quote they’ve been able to find from an independent contractor is about $117,000.
The insurer told Nine News that an accredited contractor has been on standby for more than two months to restore the apartment to “pre-loss conditions” – which the family says is not true.
CHU said it “remains available to resolve this claim with the family as soon as possible.”
Daily Mail Australia has contacted CHU for comment.