Glasgow tenant raises fears over returning to flat after leak

Robert Nisbet has been temporarily moved from his home in Cadder Place – which is owned by Maryhill Housing Association (MHA) - after cracks appeared on the living room ceiling.

The 56-year-old claimed that the issue began at the start of October when he reported problems with his smoke detector.

The smoke detector in Robert's property before he was decanted (Image: Robert Nisbet)

This led to the discovery of a leak coming from the communal water tank located in the attic above Robert’s property which was causing the device to malfunction. 

He said: “I was sleeping and the smoke detector went off in the hall so I went to investigate and there wasn’t any smoke.

“I reported this to MHA on October 3 and they sent out an electrician who removed it. After that water started to drip through the smoke detector and a plumber came out.

“The last plumber who came on October 31 said the water tank, where the leak was coming from, couldn’t be fixed and had to be replaced.

“The next day there were cracks on the ceiling and water coming through, the whole ceiling was saturated.

“Contractors took a knife and took the ceiling apart, pulled out the wet insulation, went to B&Q, and put in dry insulation because they claimed that was the problem and that it wasn’t the tank.

“Half an hour after they left water was coming through again and I was decanted. The ceiling caved in after I left.

“It’s been horrific.”

(Image: Robert Nisbet) (Image: Gordon Terris)

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It is understood that in 2023, MHA ran a programme to disconnect outdated communal water tanks, replacing them with individual tanks in the homes of affected tenants.

The housing association states that Robert’s flat was identified for the work but access was reportedly not given and it was not completed.

However, Robert disputes this.

Repair work is now being undertaken at the property and Robert claims he was told this would be completed by Saturday however, he says he is not keen to return.

Robert outside the flat (Image: Gordon Terris)

He added: “When the water was coming through the ceiling I wasn’t able to sleep. I was in that property for well over a month with no fire protection in the hall [as the smoke detector was temporarily disconnected].

“If there was a fire I wouldn’t have known anything about it. There is another smoke detector in the living room and a heat detector in the kitchen.

“I found out that these should all be interlinked so that if one goes off they all go off but they never have been.

“I don’t really want to stay there because I don’t think it’s structurally safe. I’d like a different place to live because the water was coming through for about a month, so it will be damaged.”

(Image: Gordon Terris)

A spokesperson for MHA said: “We understand and appreciate Mr Nisbet’s concerns and are actively taking steps with our contractor to resolve the issue.

"Mr Nisbet’s smoke alarm was interlinked with his heat detector, however, the smoke alarm had to be temporarily disconnected for safety reasons due to the leak.

“In relation to fixing the smoke alarm and interlinking with the heat detector, we recognise that this matter should have been dealt with a lot sooner and realise that we have let Mr Nisbet down.

“We have logged this as a formal complaint, which will be investigated by a senior member of staff.

“We appreciate Mr Nisbet’s frustration that his return to his home has been delayed, which has been as a result of additional works to ensure that the property is safe for his return.”