'It's a losing battle' - Edinburgh council tenants fear for their health over mould issues during lockdown

Residents living in temporary housing and council properties said severe cases of mould and damp should be treated as a priority during the pandemic due to the health risks it can pose.

Edinburgh Evening News published a story about a mother-of-two battling with Edinburgh City Council over an irreparable mould problem in her Muirhouse flat which prompted several other tenants in a similar predicament to come forward.

A 30-year-old woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, said she is “fighting a losing battle” with the council in relation to damp problems at her flat in Ravenswood avenue where she lives with her two children aged four and 11.

She said since repair works have been put on hold during the pandemic, she has been forced to “break” coronavirus regulations for the safety of her children.

Pictures showing mould and damp problems at properties in Ravenswood Avenue (top left), Calder Grove (bottom left) and Gracemount pictures: supplied

“Damp is causing the tiles in my bathroom to fall off the wall because behind them the walls are rotten,” she said.

“My daughter, who is four, will not shower in my house at all no matter what I try and say to her.

"But the shower is my only way of washing me and my children and I have to break Covid rules and go to family or friends to bath my daughter because she is scared of the shower.

“I was told not to use the shower, so where and I supposed to go to shower during a pandemic?

Tiles coming off the walls due to damp problems according to the tenant at a property in Ravenswood Avenue picture: supplied

The mother-of-two said damp has spread to other parts of the property which is a cause of concern for her and her children’s health.

“I have told the council I would leave the property so they could carry out the work if it meant standing outside in the cold all day,” she said.

"Surely it is a basic human right to be able to shower in safety and not be living in a damp-ridden bathroom and hall.

"I emailed another complaint yesterday morning which the council said will be logged but it’s causing so much stress and anxiety.

Mould and damp issues showing at Lisa Brown's temporary accommodation in Gracemount picture: Lisa Brown

"How it’s not being treated as an emergency is beyond me.”

Lisa Brown is another tenant who said she has had to “literally beg” for contractors to be sent to her home address in Gracemount where she lives with her two children aged nine and eleven.

The 44-year-old single mum claims her landlord Link PSL, a private company used by Edinburgh City Council for council tenants, is not treating her case as an emergency and has delayed repairs due to the ongoing pandemic.

Ms Brown has lived in the temporary accommodation since April last year after declaring herself homeless, but she said the living conditions are becoming “unbearable.”

Wall paint coming off in Lisa's flat due to ongoing damp problems in the property picture: Lisa Brown

"I’ve had to chuck out bedding and clothing because the damp is so bad,” she said.

"I keep being told ‘put your heating on’ and ‘open the windows more’ but I have tried everything and it’s not making any difference.

"I’ve been given damp collectors but they fill up so quickly.

"I’m going to be forced into fuel poverty because I try to keep my heating on as much as possible.

"I am at breaking point, I am literally begging them to move me but no one is listening to me.

"I don’t think the people I am asking for help from understand what it is like being in these conditions.”

Lisa said she is regularly having to empty damp collectors that were provided and has had to throw out bedding and clothing due to the condensation building up inside the building picture: Lisa Brown

MP for Edinburgh South Ian Murray is assisting Ms Brown with her case and has demanded the council remove her landlord from its list of temporary accommodation providers.

He said: “We have been assisting Lisa where we can and its shocking how anyone can be left to live in those conditions.

"This is, as I understand, a Link house which is rented from the private sector from the council for council tenants.

"The council really needs to take these accommodations off their list if they are substandard and demand that landlords get them to the housing standard of occupation before allowing them to be rented. It’s shocking.

"We have had one or two cases about council repairs, but to be fair the council has been doing what they can with the restrictions that they are operating within.”

Katriona Reilly, who lives in Calder Grove, said she has “given up” trying to get the council to help her with mould issues in her residence.

"Contractors put in a false wall a few years ago to cover up the mould, but it is just coming through that. I dread to think what is behind it,” she said.

"The problem is during Covid it’s not considered an emergency, but that doesn’t mean to say it’s not impacting on our health.

"I have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma so it’s not going to be doing me any good.”

Elle Glenny, of tenants union Living Rent, said: “We have many ongoing cases of Edinburgh council tenants reporting mould in their homes. Edinburgh council keeps refusing to carry out the necessary repairs to ensure tenants are safe in their homes. The council’s clam that they are only doing emergency repairs because of Covid isn’t good enough; mould poses a serious health risk and should be treated as an emergency.

“Edinburgh desperately needs more and better council housing. Despite what the council may say, problems like these aren’t the result of individual residents misusing their homes. They are structural problems that reflect the inadequacy of those homes in the first place.”

A council spokeswoman said: “It’s important that tenants report repairs to us, particularly where there may be a risk of harm to the tenant if the repair is not carried out.

"We are currently working within restrictions that are designed to protect tenants from the risk of Covid infection. Our absolute priority is to protect tenants from harm whether that is harm through infection or harm caused by something not working properly in their home.

"Our teams are carrying out around 2,000 essential repair and maintenance jobs each week under the current restrictions.”

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