A mother and her 10 month old baby have been forced to endure ‘unliveable’ conditions overrun by slugs and covered in damp and mildew. Laura Harrison, 25, has been living in a one bed flat rented from Rosebery Housing Association (RHA) in the Upper High Street in Epsom since March this year.

Since moving in, Miss Harrison has battled increasing mould and mildew during the day and slugs at night.

On one occasion after just a short while crawling on the carpeted floor her son’s baby grow was left covered in mould and mildew.

She said: “It’s absolutely disgusting.

“I have noticed they only come out at night and when I have got up to get my baby’s bottle I have seen about 8 or 10 slugs and you can see the trails all over the carpet in the morning.

“I have got a 10 month old baby trying to learn to walk and the carpet is filthy.

“I have to keep him in his cot because the carpet is so disgusting I don’t want to put him on it.”

“I know the resident next door actually moved out because her slug problem was so bad.”

Miss Harrison’s baby has already been taken to the doctors with flu and wheezing; symptoms she says have been caused by the flat’s damp conditions. Prolonged exposure to mould in large quantities can present a health risk causing allergic reactions and breathing problems with infants particularly susceptible.

However slugs, while a clear indication of damp, are not considered a pest or public health risk meaning pest controllers can do very little. Tony Baker, from Alpha Kill Environmental Services based in Guildford, said: “The problem with slugs is they are a nuisance but not a pest.

“They are not designated a public health risk and so there are no chemicals to deal with them.

“The only thing that’s cleared is slug pellets.

“They can squeeze through the smallest of gaps and they can flatten themselves to get into buildings.

“There will be lots under the floor boards as well.

“It’s about keeping them out rather than killing them.”

Despite first reporting the squalid conditions in March nothing had been done to adequately address the problem until this week after the Epsom Guardian contacted RHA.

On Tuesday a team was ordered to Miss Harrison’s flat to begin work removing kitchen units to seal obvious places slugs may be getting in, clear guttering and pipes and take down a wall contributing to the damp.

An architect will also be assessing the whole building for potential refurbishment.

Sally Bayliss, head of housing at Rosebery Housing Association, said: “We’re really sorry about the damp, mould and slug problems that Miss Harrison has been having in her home.

“We understand how upsetting this must be for her, especially as she has a young baby.

“Last week we put in an order for work to the home and it will be started this week.

“We’re also going to be investing money into improving the whole block of flats.

“We can assure Miss Harrison that we’re doing everything we can to improve her living conditions.”