An Aberdeen mum-of-two has spoken out about the challenges she has faced to get the mould issues fixed in her flat.
Louise West first discovered black mould and water dripping down the walls just a couple of weeks after moving into the Rosemount property.
She and her partner Antony Thorpe say they have been fighting to get Aberdeen City Council to fix the problems for four years now.
“When we stripped the wallpaper we found black mould underneath which we got the council to treat,” she said.
“The wall where the water is running down was re-plastered when we moved in. If I’d seen it, I’d never have taken the flat.
“We’ve had mould proofing three times over the space of three years. The painting was redone three weeks ago and the walls are already soaked.”
Worried about children’s health
Miss West, 40, lives in the Short Loanings flat with Mr Thorpe 43, and their two children – three-year-old Quillon and 13-week-old Nyx.
She said: “Both of my kids have had a cough for four weeks, me and my partner are coughing now as well. A little 13-week-old having a cough for four weeks already is not good.
“I’ve got a buggy that is riddled with mould. My curtains are all mouldy, and I’ve had to throw out shoes.
“We all deserve to live in safe homes, especially young children.”
The mould and water problems return “with a vengeance” every winter when the weather worsens.
Miss West said she had been advised by the council to keep windows open to prevent the mould from returning.
“There’s only so long you can have the windows open in this weather,” she added.
The building needs ‘demolished’
This week, water started dripping out of the living room ceiling light as well.
Miss West continued: “My partner went up the loft on Sunday night and it’s just rotten – all the buildings on this road are the same. They’ve all got problems with leaking water, damp and mould.
“The flat was measured for new windows about a year ago but no further work has been carried out.
“And, when we asked why there was no insulation, we were basically told it was due to the age of the building. It’s just needing demolished at this point.”
An Aberdeen City Council spokeswoman said: “Works have been carried out this month to repair a leak in the roof following communication with the tenant.
“Our inspector and housing and support officer are arranging a visit to discuss the internal damage.”
The council paid another visit to the flat on Wednesday and said they will be chasing up the window replacements, and looking into insulation for the external walls and an examination of the loft.
Conversation