Tenant pleads for dry home
A LOCHGILPHEAD grandmother is living in a flat riddled with damp – despite repeated appeals for action.
A GRANDMOTHER fears damp problems in her Lochgilphead home could be harming her family’s health.
Margaret Walker, who has lived in her ground-floor property on Union Terrace for almost a year, says her ACHA-owned home is not fit to live in until the gathering moisture around her house is dealt with.
Mrs Walker, 63, who is a volunteer in Mary’s Meals’ local shop, said: ‘Since we moved in last September, there has been dampness creeping in across the house.
‘My living room has had the worst of it, with water running in through the walls. The plaster has been taken away and there is only brickwork between the living room and outside.
‘During the winter, rain found its way in through the wall and ran along the skirting. It has been horrendous.
‘After one year in the flat, all that has been done has been to take cuttings out of the front of the house and drilling holes, apparently to let any water find its way out. That was because some of the water may be finding its way in due to slates missing on the roof. ‘It’s just a mess. ‘I complained to ACHA who said work to fix the problems would be completed during the summer, but that is nearly gone.’
Mrs Walker says the living room is not the only problem area in the house.
‘In the kitchen, there was even stagnant water collecting in the cover of the kitchen ceiling light, which created a disgusting smell. Even worse, moisture gathers in the bedrooms, in the ceiling corners and on the walls, so you are also sleeping in a damp environment.
‘My 15-year-old grandson has asthma and has been taking chest infections so it is about my family’s health, not just having a dry home.
‘I hope ACHA will fix these problems soon, or ultimately find us another property that is dry and fit to live in.’
An ACHA spokesman said: ‘The association has carried out work to the property to replace the cavity wall insulation as it had been compromised and was contributing towards dampness within the property.
‘There has been some extra work required to ensure that the old cavity wall insulation was removed completely. The association wanted to ensure this work was successful before taking forward the remaining works.
‘With respect to the next steps, a further course of work has been agreed with our contractor. We removed damp plaster from the internal living room wall to allow better examination and a better finish when replastering. Now we can
start to take forward the internal work. There is also work to the roof and chimney planned which is due to start next week.
‘All internal works are programmed to be completed by the end of September. We have been keeping our tenant updated with the process and will continue to do so.’