A 72-year-old woman blames her council for water damage, mould, and health decline in her flat, seeking urgent repair assistance.
Elizabeth is 72 and owns her flat. She has long battled the council. She needs them to fix the issues and fears a big repair bill. Everyone in the block may have to pay to fix the building’s roof.
She takes anti-depressants because of this stress. Elizabeth cannot afford the roof repair cost and needs help to pay that amount. Her flat needs new flooring, plaster, and complete redecoration, which she says will cost thousands.
The water damage started four years ago, in 2020. She was told a gutter blocked from bird mess. Lockdown meant nothing happened, but a council worker came with a bucket and cleared some of the gutter.
A tenant lived upstairs then. He contacted the council often until 2022, when the council condemned his property. But they didn’t tell the other tenants and this continued into 2023.
Her flat was again damaged severely. It affected her bedroom, living room, and cupboard. All were covered in black mould and mildew. Her upstairs neighbor moved out, and no one maintained his flat. Water constantly leaked into her flat. Because she owns it, the council didn’t respond.
Contractors came in 2023 to address it. From late 2023 to late 2024, the water stopped. On Christmas Eve, a council retail unit below her started leaking. Elizabeth called an emergency plumber. Workmen inspected both her flat and the one above and think the roof needs work.
Elizabeth argues the guttering is the issue. The flat above hers is in bad shape. A bedroom has missing ceiling and floorboards. The living room has half a ceiling. Half the floorboards are gone too, with the walls having no plaster; it’s just brick.
They had a dry year after cleaning the gutter in 2023. Now, they may pay £73,000 total. Money would divide between the owners, but the council says water comes from the roof now.
They quote the Scottish Tenants Act 2004. Owners received a demand for roof repairs. It required payment within 28 days. She cannot pay that much money and doesn’t get benefits for help. Cloudy days cause panic attacks. She rushes home when it rains and once had ten buckets to catch water.
Council communication is very poor. They only respond when newspapers get involved. Councillor Chris Gilmour visited her flat. He hopes they can find a solution, but Elizabeth says her home is making her unwell.
Gilmour visited her on February 5. He saw the property’s condition. He contacted council officers. He wants to know the needed repairs and wants her home wind and watertight. He urged them to do work quickly.
The council is a minority owner. They need agreement from two private owners for repairs. They are getting a roof repair quote. They will consult with the owners. They will propose a roof replacement. A majority of owners must approve, but a similar proposal failed in 2023. The council sympathizes with her and will work with her and the other owners to complete the needed repairs.