A woman has been living in a flat that is “not reasonably tenantable or habitable” after years of dampness, according to an architecture expert.
Earlier this year the Glasgow Times reported how Betty Gilmour, 77, was living in her multi-storey flat in Drygate with dampness for eight years.
Despite the landlord, Wheatley Homes Glasgow, stating the initial leak has been fixed, Betty says it has not.
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After years of the problem not being resolved, lawyers acting for Betty engaged an architect, Professor Tim Sharpe, to inspect the property.
Since the inspection, Wheatley Homes Glasgow has sent repairs teams to the property and carried out work including the redecoration of a bedroom, but the tenant says the problem has not been fixed.
After the repair attempt, a plasterer was sent to replaster the hall and bathroom but Betty said he couldn’t complete the work because he said there was still water damage.
Betty said: “The plasterer came and said he couldn’t do these bits because it was wet. The leak has not been fixed. You see it is still wet.”
She is still without lighting in her bathroom as a result.
The Glasgow Times visited Betty in the flat and the bathroom ceiling looks exactly the way it did in July.
Prof Sharpe’s report said there was water penetration with evidence in the hall, bathroom and a cupboard.
He said: “These areas are very wet with saturated construction to low levels. It is clear that this penetration has been ongoing for a considerable period of time.
“Areas of the ceiling that have been replastered have new dampness and here are patterns of staining that indicate successive wetting and drying.”
He said the leaks would “introduce large amounts of moisture into the dwelling” that will “lead to problems elsewhere”.
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He noted dampness was “most significant” in a bedroom across the hall from the bathroom.
Prof Sharpe said thermal imaging showed there was dampness and mould growth.
He said lack of ventilation and radiators on internal walls was leading to “risk of dampness”.
He concluded: “The cause of the water penetration is not clear but the intermittent nature of it suggested it is related to defects in the drainage system from the flats above this one.
“The bathrooms will be stacked above this, so there will be common supply and drainage pipework but any leaks will end up in this lower flat.
"During the survey, I noted there was a running drain in the access corridor.”
He recommended investigation to the properties above and repairs carried out.
Also “humidistat-controlled extract fans” should be installed in the kitchen and bathroom and radiators repositioned to external walls.
His report said the bathroom is not usable and there is inadequate ventilation.
He said: “These conditions will constitute nuisances, as a result of which the dwelling is not reasonably tenantable or habitable”.
Wheatley Homes Glasgow has since replastered and redecorated the bedroom.
A spokesperson for Wheatley Homes Glasgow said: “We haven’t yet received the report from the tenant, but we would be happy to look at any additional work needing carried out.
“Since July, our repairs team has fixed the initial leak and replastered the internal walls. We’ve also agreed to pay for any energy costs for extra heaters in the flat to dry the plastering.
“Our repairs team is carrying out a full investigation to make sure all of the issues have been identified. If any further work is needed, we’ll arrange for these to be fixed straight away.
“We’ll continue to keep in regular touch with the tenant and offer any support we can.”
Housing campaigner Sean Clerkin, of the Scottish Tenants Organisation, has been supporting Betty.
He said: “This senior citizen has been living with perpetual dampness and mould in her home for years and with the onset of winter this 77 year-old lady could end up seriously ill. The Wheatley Group must eradicate this dampness now.”
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