A man whose home has become plagued by damp and mould says he plans to spend the winter living in a motorhome parked on his driveway.
David Barlow, 65, purchased his leasehold retirement home in Murton, Swansea, in November 2023. The property sits on the scenic Gower Peninsula, close to some of the area’s best-known beaches.
Within days of moving in, Mr Barlow noticed what he described as a “horrendous black stripe” appearing in his lounge. Nearly two years later, he still has not unpacked, worried that the persistent damp will damage his belongings.
Mr Barlow said he first raised the problem with property management company FirstPort soon after moving in, but despite his complaints, the issue remains unresolved.
According to FirstPort, the problem stems from faulty cavity wall insulation installed by British Gas 11 years ago. However, Osborne Energy — which manages disputes on behalf of British Gas — suggested that “general maintenance issues” might be responsible and said it was awaiting feedback from FirstPort.
“I haven’t had a life – it’s just working, waiting and existing,” Mr Barlow said. “I’m doing my best to keep going, but it’s really put a big hold on my life.”
Originally from Sheffield, Mr Barlow bought the property leasehold for his retirement. This means he owns the right to live in the property for a long-term period but not the land itself, which belongs to a freeholder. The development is managed by FirstPort.
Mr Barlow said the ongoing damp and mould have taken a toll on his health. He has been prescribed antidepressants and sleeping tablets, and his optician has raised concerns that irritation in his eyes could be linked to the poor living conditions.
The situation has also disrupted his work as a children’s residential care officer. Because of the conditions at home, he now stays overnight while working 24-hour shifts.
“When I’m away, I feel fine, but the moment I drive back, it hits me again,” he said.
Now facing a third winter without what he considers a “liveable” home, Mr Barlow said that if the situation does not improve by the end of November, he intends to move into a motorhome parked on his driveway, connected to the mains supply.
He described communication from FirstPort as confusing and inconsistent, with “delays and conflicting messages.”
“I feel like I’ve been left totally in the dark,” he said, adding that in two years, 10 different managers have been assigned to his case.
Despite pursuing every possible channel — from formal complaints to tribunal proceedings — Mr Barlow said he has “exhausted every avenue.”
“I love my home and don’t want to sell,” he said. “I want to put down roots, but until I can live there properly, I can’t live in it. It’s a crazy situation.”
A spokesperson for FirstPort said the company recognised “how challenging this situation” had been for Mr Barlow and was doing “everything we can to find a resolution as quickly as possible.”
Earlier this year, the company confirmed that an independent survey found the cavity wall insulation installed by British Gas 11 years ago was faulty.
FirstPort said it contacted Osborne Energy, which handles British Gas disputes, but its initial request for repairs was declined. It noted that the insulation is covered by a 25-year guarantee, and the company has since applied for financial support and joined a group claim to secure “a cost effective and reliable outcome” for residents.
The spokesperson said Mr Barlow’s complaint was formally addressed on 27 August 2025, and the property manager remains in weekly contact with him. They added that FirstPort would contact Osborne Energy directly to review the shared information and determine next steps.
Debbie Lewis from Osborne Energy said the case began in June 2024 after receiving a damp and mould report from Mr Barlow. Later, in September, a group report identified five affected properties within the same development.
She explained that FirstPort then took over communication and asked Osborne Energy not to contact Mr Barlow directly.
In November, Osborne Energy commissioned a survey which suggested that general maintenance issues, rather than insulation failure, were to blame. However, the report went unreviewed after a manager left the company, Ms Lewis said.
She added that FirstPort later apologised and carried out its own “visual, non-intrusive” inspection in July, which did not “conclusively” link the damp to insulation faults.
In September, Ms Lewis said Osborne Energy questioned quotes submitted by FirstPort for insulation removal in seven additional homes, but had yet to receive a reply.
British Gas, which installed the insulation, said it had “nothing further to add to Osborne Energy’s position.”
BBC News, November 2025
