Stephen Mulhern is reported to have a £4m property empire but has recently come under fire (Image: Getty)
has come under fire from Leicestershire tenants claiming they are enduring “squalor” at a property he rents out. They have brought to light allegations that the Catchphrase presenter’s £165,000 abode is beset by damp and mould concerns, igniting health fears among them.
The house in Glen Parva is part of the ITV favourites’ extensive £4 million property portfolio. Nevertheless, an investigative piece by the Big Issue exposed that it apparently suffers from relentless problems causing residents’ health to worsen.
According to the occupants, efforts to alert Connells, the managing agency, regarding the distressing conditions were made. Images emerging from within the dwelling depict pervasive dampness and mould smothering the walls, but residents claim complaints have been met with indifference from Connells amidst continuous tribulations, reports .
A resident, who continued their essential service during the -19 outbreak and chose to remain anonymous, vented their exasperation concerning the sordid living environment. They commented: “We worked our butts off as key workers during . Who tunes in to watch and support while we’re paying him rent to live in squalor?
A tennant said “the landlord is a millionaire, profiting off our misery” (Image: Supplied to Big Issue)
“My housemate pointed out the damp issue during an annual inspection two or three years ago. The agent merely recommended that we ventilate properly and keep the house warm during the winter. We did, but the gradually worsened.”
A humidity meter bought by the key worker reportedly showed moisture levels of between 70 per cent and 80 per cent inside the property.
This, they said, convinced Connells to install a positive input ventilation system, but it only alleviated the problem for a short time.
“It has turned me into a gloomy, rather dour person,” the tenant lamented. “I’ve become more irritable, and my focus has slipped, leading to frustrating mistakes at work.”
Photos from the property show mould on walls (Image: Supplied to the Big Issue)
The dire conditions have even sapped the tenant’s enthusiasm for physical activities. “I used to love playing football and exercising regularly that was my outlet. However, I’ve lost all interest in physical activity,” they disclosed.
The property, acquired by Mr Mulhern’s firm JFDI Productions in April 2020, remains embroiled in a two-year-long dispute. Despite the new ventilation system, tenants claim the issues have only intensified.
The tenant expressed their frustration with both the management and Mr Mulhern. They stated: “I despise how little they seem to care. The landlord is a millionaire, profiting off our misery. […] is part of the same system that treats tenants like disposable income streams.”
“My home is Hungary, and I am now planning to return there. The property we are renting will hopefully become someone’s home one day. It would be selfish to think only of myself and the state of this property. This isn’t just a personal issue; it’s a national one.”
The tenant stated that resolving the problems was the “bare minimum” they expected, and they are also seeking compensation. Furthermore, they are calling for “stricter legislation” at the national level to prevent other tenants from “suffering the same fate”.
Walls in the property were ‘covered in damp and mould’ (Image: Big Issue/ Getty)
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In a statement to LeicestershireLive, a spokesperson for said: “Stephen was absolutely mortified to learn about this situation and the awful experience the tenant has faced which is clearly unacceptable.
“Stephen had not been made aware of any of these issues as he relies entirely on an independent company who manage the property on his behalf.”
“Having not been aware of the issues until now, has taken this matter into his own hands immediately and has personally requested for a team of damp specialists to visit the property to make sure that the problems with the ventilation and mould are resolved as a matter of urgency.”
Humidity levels at the property were very high (Image: Supplied to the Big Issue)
They added: “We have contacted the tenant to express sincere apologies for the distress and frustration the management of this matter has caused.
“This falls way below the standards Stephen expects and he is doing everything possible to remedy this ASAP, and this process is already underway.”
A request for comment has been made to Connells.