Family living out of bags for 9 years 'in mouldy flat with water dripping'

26 January 2024 , 07:50

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Mould in the Allison's house (Image: Supplied)

A family claim water has been dripping from the ceiling for the last nine years - forcing them to keep clothes in black bags at their black mould infested home.

The Allisons, from Drumchapel, north of Glasgow, allege they have been "ignored" by the housing association and that their health has been affected. They moved into the home 12 years ago and said that after three years they began to notice water dripping from ceilings and walls in a number of rooms. The damp patches quickly turned into black mould, which they say has covered daughter Amanda's room, her wardrobe, her parent's room and some cupboards in the kitchen. The situation has become so bad in the 27-year-old's room that she was forced to move her mattress into the living room just before Christmas.

The family say they have called Kingsridge Cleddans Housing Association on a number of occasions since 2015, and have been told they are battling an ongoing condensation problem. "We moved in 12 years ago. It's an adapted house because my dad has a disability and uses a wheelchair," said Amanda. "The first few years were fine and then we started to experience damp and mould. We were told it was just condensation. So we cleaned the windows and wiped down the walls.

"In the years since then, it has got worse and worse. I can't sleep in my room at all now because of all the black mould. Everything in that room is ruined. I had to take everything out of my wardrobe because my clothes were just getting ruined. My coats are in black bags and I've had to put sheets over my drawers to protect them. There is water dripping from the ceiling in my mum and dad's room and the wallpaper is peeling off.

"We've had people come to the house and paint over it three or four times since we moved in. But the mould returns in a matter of weeks. We've had roofers out to check the roof and they told us we needed a new roof, but we were told by the housing association that we didn't need any work on the roof. In October I was diagnosed with asthma - I never had any issues before this house."

London flat for rent for £1,400 a month with bed tucked away in kitchen cupboard

The family have spent a bit of money to make their place feel homely. Amanda spent around £1,000 to add some personal touches, however, she feels all the cash has gone to waste because of the mould latching onto the walls and ceilings. She told GlasgowLive: "During lockdown I spent good money to do up my room. I got the walls painted, new carpets and furniture, but it's all covered in mould spores. I've even had to throw out clothes because of it. I've bought three TVs because they keep breaking due to the water dripping on them. My mum and dad have had to throw sofas out from the living room and pots and pans because they are covered in mould."

Amanda's wardrobe has black mould (Supplied)

A cupboard in the kitchen with mould (Supplied)

Her dad, William, has been back and forth with the housing association in an attempt to solve the almost decade-long issue. The 60-year-old claims that workers told him it was his clothes drier that was causing the problems. William said he battled to move to the home on Inchfad Crescent after living in a top floor flat but now he believes that the property has had a detrimental effect on him mentally and physically. "I phoned them up about my daughter's room and they told me that the drier was the problem," he said. "They were trying to tell me that it was all condensation but I know what mould looks like.

"A man was sent to wipe around my vents, which I didn't understand. He went up to see my roof and said it was gubbed. I had to fight to get this house. Before, I was staying in a top floor flat and that doesn't suit me because I'm in a wheelchair. Now this is happening I feel like people aren't listening.

"My mental health is through the floor now due to the stress. My daughter is breathing that mould in every day. I've got an open wound and I keep getting infections in this house. I've had enough of living here. I don't want to be in this house. I'm really angry because I feel like I'm being ignored and this is affecting my health."

Interim Director of Kingsridge Cleddans, James Strang, said: "I can confirm that there have indeed been complaints concerning condensation-related issues at this address. Over the years the association has commissioned eight specialist inspection surveys, with the first being commissioned in November 2015 and the most recent last November. All have confirmed that there are no structural or penetrating damp issues affecting the property and that the core issue is a recurring condensation issue.

"On no occasion has the association ignored our tenants. I can confirm that we are currently actively engaging with our tenants, and have been for the last few weeks, on further investigatory work to try and reach a satisfactory permanent conclusion to the issue. The association takes all aspects of tenant and resident safety very seriously, including the effects of condensation and dampness and we will always endeavour to resolve such issues in a timely manner, as will be the case with this case."

Keiran Fleming