A man has been fighting for more than a decade to get moved to a new house because mould is affecting his health.

Alex Gordon, 66, has letters from his GP, consultants and an architect professor, stating his living conditions have contributed to his health conditions and are making them worse.

Over many years Mr Gordon has been repeatedly refused rehousing and was told his flat is suitable for his needs and for him to live in.

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He was told in 2018 he had “no housing needs”.

The flat, owned by Wheatley Homes Glasgow, is a three-bedroom four-in-a-block lower flat home in the south of the city.

Wheatley said it is now working to find a solution to his case.

Mr Gordon has been in dispute with the housing association for more than a decade over the condition of the flat.

Glasgow Times:

Both he and his wife were diagnosed with breathing problems and Mr Gordon with a mould allergy in 2013.

He has been in hospital dozens of times and has had five operations since 2013.

A letter from Consultant Respiratory Physician, Prof Malcolm Shepherd, in 2019, stated his condition was “indicative of persistent and chronic exposure of his upper airways to mould”.

He said: “It is highly likely then, that his repeated upper airways surgery and disease is related to ongoing mould exposure.”

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Professor Shepherd added the only real treatment is to reduce or eliminate exposure altogether.

He added: “In the case of aspergillus, this would require rehousing and I would support the request for rehousing from a clinical and immunological perspective.”

An architect, Prof Tim Sharpe, inspected the flat and said Mr Gordon should not be living there.

Glasgow Times:

He said: “During the survey, there was evidence of high moisture readings and mould growth in the bathroom.”

He added that due to his health conditions “it would seem apparent that for this occupant the building is not reasonably tenantable or habitable.”

Mr Gordon said since 2011 he has been on “strong antibiotics and medicine for mould allergies”.

He added: “Nobody listened to me.”

He said: “My mould allergy is a horrible illness and can never be cured, I will be suffering it till my last days.

“If I am rehoused in a better house I will be suffering less and I would not need excessive medication and regular operations.”  

Mr Gordon was taken by ambulance to hospital three times between September 2017 and May 2018 with breathing difficulties.

Glasgow Times:

The GP said in the letter that he has allergies to mould. And that inflammation and infection were a “major contributing factor and he needs ongoing treatment”.

He added: “Living conditions obviously make a large part of this exposure.”

A handwritten letter from Dr David Leslie to GHA in March 2018, stated: “I confirm that the above patient is suffering from a severe mould allergy, which I understand is due to the presence of mould and damp in his home.

“His mould allergy is having a serious effect on his health and in my opinion, it is imperative that he is rehoused urgently.”

Glasgow Times:

The GP also said: “There is no prospect of improvement in his symptoms unless he is removed from the source of the mould.”

In 2019 GHA said they carried out three surveys of the home and “found there is no dampness or mould”.

But Mr Gordon said repairs have been attempted by the landlord, at a cost of £10,500, but have not solved the problem.

A spokesperson for Wheatley Homes Glasgow, said: “We take all reports of damp and mould very seriously and aim to fix any issues as soon as possible.

“As soon as we were made aware of issues we attended and carried out a full inspection which showed some small areas of minimal damp and mould.

“Since then, we’ve tried to arrange dates for this work to be carried out but, unfortunately, have been unable to gain access to the property.

“The tenant has been considered a top priority for a move with us since July last year for a top-floor flat in Mansewood.

“Unfortunately, we have had a very low turnover of homes of this type in that area and we have been working with him to widen his areas of choice.”

Sean Clerkin, of the Scottish Tenants Association, has been assisting Mr Gordon.

He said: “The abhorrent treatment of Mr Alex Gordon and his family over a period of years having to live in terrible conditions of damp and mould that has seriously worsened their health is completely unacceptable. The family have to be re-housed immediately.”