A 32-year-old man from Warwickshire has developed a severe and potentially fatal fungal infection after years of living in a home plagued by hidden mould.

Matthew Langsworth says he repeatedly reported black mould in his council-subsidized flat, only to have it painted over rather than properly treated. After a decade of exposure, he now struggles to breathe, can barely walk to the shop, and has survived a collapsed lung and life-threatening sepsis.

Doctors diagnosed him with invasive aspergillosis, a dangerous condition caused by inhaling fungal spores that spread from the lungs into the bloodstream and other organs. Matthew says his infection has now reached his gut and believes long-term mould exposure is the cause.

Despite his health crisis, officials have deemed his home “fit for living,” leaving him unable to qualify for rehousing. “My choice is to stay and risk my life, or become homeless,” he said.

His landlord, Stonewater, says major repairs were made after a leak in 2023, including replacing the kitchen and bathroom. A recent inspection found mould on surfaces and a broken extractor fan but no structural damp. Matthew argues that most of his flat—nearly 75 percent—is still affected.

His symptoms escalated in 2023, shortly after returning home from repair work. Within weeks, he was hospitalized with pneumonia, then rushed back after developing septic shock. Since then, even climbing stairs leaves him breathless and vomiting.

Experts warn mould exposure can trigger asthma, respiratory infections, and in rare cases, fatal conditions. Government figures show thousands of such illnesses each year are linked to damp or mouldy homes.

Matthew now asks one question of authorities: “Would you live here if this were happening to your family?”