17/10/2026
Four years.
Four years of complaints.
Four years before an Ombudsman investigation and public apology. ļæ¼
Cases like this highlight a problem we still see far too often.
Mould is being treated as a cleaning issue instead of a moisture issue.
Mould doesn't grow because a tenant forgot to clean a wall.
Mould grows because the conditions for growth exist.
Spraying, wiping, painting over, or bleaching visible mould may address the symptom, but it does not necessarily address the cause.
The conversation shouldn't be.. "How do we get rid of the mould?"
It should be.. "What's causing it?"
Because mould is often the warning sign, not the root cause.
The real measure of success isn't whether the mould disappears today.
It's whether it comes back tomorrow.
And when complaints remain unresolved for years, the focus inevitably shifts from the mould itself to whether reasonable steps were taken to investigate, identify the cause, and respond appropriately.
IICRC - Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification
Investigation of a complaint about SA Housing Trustās failure to take timely action to address health and safety concerns and to adequately deal with complaints about those concerns.