Katie Williams and Georgia Hull have spoken out about their health concerns after their $1,000-a-week Sydney apartment became infected with black mould.
Williams, a beach sprinter and former Big Brother contestant, and Hull, a celebrity make-up artist, were renting the two-bedroom apartment in Rose Bay in central Sydney when they developed health problems about 18 months ago.
“I got a rash on my eyelids, I had really bad asthma, I had tightness in my chest… I would wake up with a headache, feel really groggy and drowsy, just not feeling well – and that was early on,” Williams said. The Daily Telegraph.
She described how the mold — which originally only appeared on some walls and cracks between windows in the dated apartment — then spread.
“It just kept getting worse. It was growing on our clothes, all over our furniture, paintings,” Williams said.
‘Our health also got worse and worse and now I use a steroid inhaler and these tablets that are specifically for the lungs,
“Black mold spores, if you disturb them you can breathe them in… it can poison you… I’ve had so many chest infections,” Hull added.
The couple spent 18 months trying to get their landlord to fix the problem, all while paying a combined $975 a week in rent. Eventually, with no results, they decided to move out.
Former Big Brother contestant Katie Williams (left) and make-up artist Georgia Hull (right) spent 18 months trying to get black mould removed from their rental property before moving in
The couple said they both developed a range of illnesses from the fungus’ spores (stock image)
They believe that airflow and humidity are the cause of the problem, as the windows in their previous apartment were painted shut. They have now opted for a newer, airier apartment in Bondi, although they are paying more rent.
The couple added that they had to go through all of their belongings and throw out many items that were contaminated with the mold so that the mold wouldn’t spread to their new home.
They also took on a roommate to help pay the higher rent, but felt they had to stay in the Bondi area as that was where they did most of their work.
The couple got engaged in February this year, after being in a relationship since 2021.
“We’ve had a lot of personal ups and downs during lockdown and we’ve helped each other through it. We’ve laughed, cried, danced and embraced it all,” Williams previously told Daily Mail Australia.
“She’s actually my first girlfriend. Before Georgia, I had dated guys! It’s so different; it’s an emotional connection like no other,” she said.
“I’m really proud of how we’ve handled our relationship. I was trolled and questioned about my sexuality after Big Brother, and I’m strong in who I am and who I love.”
In April, the couple announced that their wedding date had not yet been set.
“I’ve been busy planning our own wedding (no date set yet), but I’ve been canvassing vendors, venue, budgets, and logistics,” Hull wrote on her Instagram stories.
Meanwhile, Williams revealed that the ‘non-traditional’ wedding will take place in two days within the next 12 months.
“Two brides. Two rings. Two days. A non-traditional WEDDING in possibly less than 12 months,” the Big Brother star captioned a photo of their engagement.
The couple have now relocated from Rose Bay to Bondi as they prepare for their wedding in the next 12 months
The loved-up couple also asked their friends and fans for recommendations and tips for their ceremony.
Williams said that a few years ago she didn’t think she would marry a woman, but she has “never been happier.”
“I don’t identify with labels, I’m just in love with myself and it feels really beautiful that we’re getting married and can have this future together,” she said.