'We wake up struggling to breathe...' the mould-infested flat two young women pay £900 a month for

Two young women claim they wake up struggling to breathe due to shocking levels of mould which have consumed their flat. Ella, 22, and her flat mate have been plagued with health issues since moving into their privately rented flat in Manchester city centre earlier this year.

The young professionals say they have even resorted to spraying their clothes with Febreze before going into work because the smell in their apartment has become so bad.

The friends were unable to view the £890 a month flat in the NOMA area of Manchester in person because all the viewings were taken, but say when they watched a video of the property online, everything looked fine. But a short time after moving in three months ago, Ella said they began to notice a strange smell and little bits of black mould appearing.

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Since then, she claims the mould has taken over the entire flat and is now affecting their health. Shocking pictures show large black marks on the kitchen ceiling, bits of mould under the women's beds, and clothes and shoes which have been ruined.

Ella claims her letting agent have failed to address the problem, and the pair are now desperately hunting for a new place to live. She says she successfully argued a freeze on their rent payments due to the living conditions - but says she was only able to do this by threatening the company with legal action.

She is now warning other young renters in Manchester to insist on viewing properties before accepting them, and ensuring they understand their legal rights if the living standards don't match up to what they have agreed to pay for.

Speaking to the M.E.N, she said: "When we moved in, straight