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A 61-year old widower from Scotland is suffering from the effects of damp and mould almost a year after reporting the cause of the problem to his landlord.
Gordon McLean, who lives in a housing association flat in Galashiels, Scotland, reported to his landlord that he’d noticed an external pipe was leaking at the beginning of December 2018 and that he was worried the water would find its way inside. The landlord sent workmen over to investigate but they insisted there was no problem, so didn't carry out a repair.
Further problems developed when a new bathroom was installed in the property. Mr McLean claims that after the new bathroom was fitted, the smell of damp increased and "within a few weeks" his wallpaper began peeling off the wall, a sure sign of an underlying damp problem. On top of this, an electrical test showed that several sockets were not safe to use due to the encroaching damp.
Despite all the evidence, the Housing Association failed to act and issue repairs, claiming there was no damp problem. While they did supply Mr McLean with a dehumidifier, this wasn’t enough to keep the damp at bay. As a result of living with damp and mould for so long, Mr McLean has now developed a cough, one of the many side effects of being exposed to toxic mould spores. Indeed, if left unchecked, mould can lead to serious respiratory conditions that can make someone very ill.
If this wasn’t enough, Mr McLean received news that the Scottish Borders Housing Association (SBHA) was increasing his rent from £88 a week to £94, despite the property not being fit for purpose. They have also sent him a letter demanding he pay £12 rent arrears, or they would proceed with legal action. Mr McLean has said, “my home has been ruined by them not repairing a leak and this how they treat me."
A representative of SBHA has defended their position, claiming “in December 2018 an inspection was carried out by SBHA with no further action at that time. Repairs relating to an immersion heater and also taps had been carried out in the property earlier in 2019 and dampness issues were not raised on these occasions.”
At Croft Preservation, as one of the leading damp experts in the South, we have many years of experience providing homes and businesses with long-lasting and effective solutions for condensation. To speak to a member of our team about your condensation troubles, contact us today on 01202 737739.
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