AN Irvine family’s dream home has turned into a house of horrors after discovering damp and mould inside the property. 

Carol Whyte and her husband, David, only purchased the property at the end of June, but it didn’t take long for them to find out that there were problems with the residence. 

They were particularly worried because their oldest daughter suffers from asthma.

But when they contacted the developers, they claim they were told they had caused the problem themselves - by using the kettle too much.

The house, on Ladyacre Grove in Montgomerie Park is only three months old, but the Whyte’s are now staying with their parents-in-law. 

Carol explained: “When we moved in, there were black marks in the cupboard that we noticed almost immediately. We had to destroy a lot of food and we’ve kept smelling the mould and the dampness.

"The wall behind the mirror is completely covered. The carpet has also been damaged along with furniture. We’ve only been here for around three months.”

Persimmon Homes are behind the developments at Montgomerie Park and Carol said she was dismayed by their lack of help.

She said: “We spoke with the site manager and we were told that ‘this is normal’. The carcasses were refitted but this hasn’t solved the problems with the house.

"We were accused of causing the problem ourselves due to our lifestyle and told that we were using the kettle too much and shouldn’t have any furniture up against the walls or anything up on them.

"But I’ve had a new house before so it’s not like I don’t know what you should and shouldn’t do when you move to a new place. They won’t help to replace furniture and the damage is costly for us.

"Our oldest daughter has asthma and it’s just unacceptable for us to be given accommodation that is in this sort of condition.”

Carol has been left frustrated in efforts to try and find a solution to the issues, however she explained that her dealings with those who were supposed to help proved to be a negative experience. 

She said: “We were visited by the customer services manager from Persimmon but it just felt patronising.

“We were effectively given an idiot’s guide to preventing damp. They seemed as though they were just passing the buck. I’ve spoken to other people who live here and they say that they’ve had similar problems, yet Persimmon told us that we are the only one with this problem”.

However, Persimmon Homes blamed an internal factor. 

Doug Law, managing director at Persimmon Homes West Scotland, said: “It is extremely important to us that our customers are happy in their new homes.

“All customers take part in a comprehensive demonstration before moving into their property that explains the dos and don’ts that are critical to ensuring that their new home meets their expectations.

“Modern homes are built so that they don’t waste energy. Better insulation, draught proofing on doors and sealed window units minimise draughts and stop heat escaping but also prevent moisture from escaping if trickle vents are not opened.

“In this particular case we have checked the property thoroughly and found that there are no external leaks or defects which confirms that the condensation is an internal moisture issue.

"The drying out process is a critical part of owning a new home and our customers are advised that it is essential to ensure that each room is adequately ventilated to allow free airflow throughout the property. ”