Leah Emmett says her 18-month-old daughter fell seriously ill with RSV and influenza after the family moved into mould-infested Army accommodation at Catterick Garrison. Contractors are accused of merely painting over the mould rather than remedying the underlying damp, while the family reported about £3,500 of damaged belongings. A recent MOD survey found widespread faults in service housing — including 35% reporting damp or mould — and 39% saying poor accommodation made them want to leave the Armed Forces. The Government has pledged £9.2bn over the next decade to upgrade accommodation, though some refurbishment has been deferred until at least 2029.
Toddler Hospitalised With RSV And Flu After Family Moved Into Mould-Infested Army Home
Leah Emmett said doctors attributed her daughter's illness to mould
Leah Emmett, 22, says her 18-month-old daughter was rushed to hospital after the family moved into an "absolutely filthy" house at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire where black mould coated walls and skirting boards and a fungal growth appeared next to the child's bed.
According to Mrs Emmett, repeated reports to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) prompted contractors to attend but their response was inadequate: she says teams from Pinnacle and Amey simply painted over the mould rather than addressing the underlying damp. Within days the toddler developed an uncontrollable cough, a high fever and a respiratory illness; medics attributed the child's condition to mould exposure and the family say she contracted both respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and the flu, requiring repeated hospital visits over about 10 days.
Pictures posted by Leah Emmett showed the poor state of her family's army accommodation
Family Impact
Mrs Emmett described the period as terrifying: "It was unbelievably stressful. I felt like I was drowning. My daughter caught RSV and the flu in one go. She was so poorly she couldn't even stay awake to eat. We had to rush her back and forth from the hospital for 10 days… It was a nightmare." She says the outbreak affected most rooms in the property and damaged roughly £3,500 of personal items, including a laptop, toys, clothing and furniture. Her husband, a serving soldier, was away on exercise in Germany at the time; she praised colleagues and commanders for practical and emotional support while criticising the contractors' response.
Survey Findings And Wider Concerns
The account comes as the MOD's Single Living Accommodation Lived Experience Survey highlights chronic problems across service housing. The survey found 83% of respondents had experienced at least one fault or repair issue in the previous 12 months. More than half said rooms had been uncomfortably hot or cold, 44% reported water leaks or blocked drains, 35% reported damp or mould and almost a third experienced electrical faults.
Leah Emmett said doctors attributed her daughter's illness to mould - Asadour Guzelian for The Telegraph
Those conditions appear to be affecting retention: 39% of respondents said their housing experience made them want to leave the Armed Forces, compared with 13% who said it made them more likely to stay. A 2024 inquiry led by Lord Kerslake also concluded that a large share of military accommodation is in poor condition and warned that substandard housing harms staff health and operational capacity.
Government Action And Industry Response
The Government has pledged £9.2bn over the next decade to upgrade, modernise or rebuild around 40,000 military homes — roughly 90% of the estate — but ministers have deferred part of the refurbishment programme until at least 2029 while the MoD seeks further savings following the Defence Investment Plan. The MOD said the investment is the largest upgrade in more than 50 years and noted that 1,250 of the worst family homes have already been upgraded.
Mrs Emmett shared photos of the mould in her Army accommodation before she was moved
The MOD also said that, since October 2025, reports have been assessed in line with Awaab's Law and that severe cases are triaged and attended to within 24 to 48 hours. Pinnacle and Amey were contacted for comment about Mrs Emmett's case.
Health Risks
Medical experts warn that living in mouldy or damp conditions can irritate the airways, weaken lung immune defences and make young children more vulnerable to respiratory infections such as RSV and influenza. Families and service personnel argue that persistent housing failures damage morale and risk higher early exits from service.
"It's obvious to anyone with a conscience that what is happening is just wrong," Mrs Emmett said. "Families should not have to deal with this."
Pinnacle and Amey were approached for comment. The MOD said: "It's unacceptable that any service person has to deal with issues with their home and we know there is much more to do to upgrade and build new military accommodation."
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