Overtown Street resident plagued with rats and mould call for run-down Glasgow flats to be bulldozed

Residents on Overtown Street in Camlachie claim that their flats are no longer fit for purpose and want to see their properties flattened. 

Once knocked down, the East End locals have called for new homes to be built on the empty space. 

Their demands come after neighbours say they collectively share “years” worth of problems – including infestations, dampness and cracked walls.

Shocking images at the address show the residents plagued with dead rats, rodent droppings, cracked ceilings and gaps in windowsills.

Bosses at West of Scotland Housing Association (WSHA) – who own and lease the properties built in 1950 – insist that a quick response to all urgent repair requests was issued at Christmas. 

But the locals argue that repair jobs will not suffice as they say that problems will only return. 

Courtney Butchart, who has lived on the street since 2016, said: “The buildings have gone to absolute mush – there is dampness, structural damage, vermin infestations and cracks in the ceilings and the walls.

“I had to move out of my property at one point and stay with my brother temporarily due to a problem with mice. I could hear them in my walls scattering around.

“The problem came from the cracks and structural defects in the walls behind my cupboards – they were able to crawl into my flat through the holes and 
gaps.

“These flats are not fit for purpose anymore and they need to be torn apart. We are getting the same problems arising time and time again despite numerous repair jobs being carried out. 

“The structural damage is obvious and if you look at the doors and door frames you can see them falling apart. Everybody’s doors, walls, ceilings and windows are falling to pieces with cracks all over them.”

Social housing bosses at WSHA have arranged for a structural engineer to carry out inspections in the homes where tenants have reported visible cracks. 

They insist that plans were also already in place to install new windows in all of their properties this year.

Butchart said: “We’ve been complaining for years about the repairs and damages. 

“Among all the flats on this street, we all have something in common – each and every single one of us needs repairs done some way or another.”

Tenants claim that they have even been left out of pocket due to repairs, with their homes often being “torn apart” to allow the works to take place. 

They say that they are “fed up” over forking out for new flooring and decorating materials whenever a repair job is carried out. 

Butchart said: “On a few occasions when repairs are needing to be carried out, it often leads to our homes being ripped apart to allow the works to take place.

“They wanted one of our neighbours to rip up her floors two days before Christmas to allow works to take place. We’re not compensated for these losses and we need to find the money to replace whatever damage is done.

“Whenever a job is happening and they need to turn our gas off, we’re also given electric heaters that cost an absolute fortune to run. 

“We’re sick of paying these bills, fed up with our homes being torn apart and we want to see these blocks of flats torn down and replaced with new ones that are actually fit for people to live in.”

The conditions led the tenants to set up a Facebook page where they are encouraged to share images of infestations, repair jobs and cracks with one another. 

Butchart added: “We set up the page because nobody was speaking out about it – it was all just word of mouth so we thought, let’s do something about it and make a point.

“We didn’t realise the extent of the problems – when the page started, the cracks really started to show. We can’t believe some of the conditions that our neighbours are living in.

“We are paying rent and no money is being put back into the flats at all. 

“We’re asking for homes to live in where we won’t be burdened with infestations, lack of insulation, crumbling walls and constant repairs.”

The housing giant will meet with tenants next week to discuss their concerns. 

Meanwhile, a meeting is also scheduled with Glasgow City Council to establish a strategy to tackle the vermin issue at 
the estate. 

Brian Gannon, chief executive officer of WSHA, said: “Since mid-December, we have been engaging very closely with a group of residents in Overtown Street about their concerns about their homes and we have committed to a long-term relationship with them by setting up a residents group to represent all residents in their blocks.

“I met with a group of residents on the same day their concerns were brought to my attention and promised that I, along with my colleagues, will meet again with them in January once we have had an opportunity to look into all the issues raised.

“In the meantime, we also arranged the following before Christmas; quick response to all urgent repair requests raised by tenants and a structural engineer is currently undertaking inspections of homes where tenants had reported visible cracks in their homes. 

“Plans were already in place to install new windows at all homes during 2022/23.

“We have also arranged a meeting with Glasgow City Council to discuss a strategy for a wider vermin issue within the estate which we believe is possibly related to adjacent derelict ground and a local burn. 

“We are fully committed to continuing to work with local residents to listen to and address any concerns.”