Karen able to close door on six months of frustration

A DUNDEE tenant forced to live without a front door for six months has spoken of her relief after it was finally fixed.

Karen Longmuir, from Whitfield, who has the lung condition COPD, had spent the winter with a boarded-up entrance after it was damaged in an emergency.

However, after landlords Home Group were asked for an explanation, it was swiftly replaced.

Karen said the situation had been “embarrassing” and “depressing”.

“The longer it went on, the worse I felt about it”, she said.

“I don’t think it’s right anyone should have to wait that long for something so simple. When it first happened, I honestly thought it would be about a week before it’s fixed.

“How can they think that’s acceptable? “I’m happy and relieved I’ve got a front door again, but the whole thing was so frustrating.”

Karen’s illness means cold air can cause her serious problems and the thin plywood in place did little to contain winter drafts.

She would often sit in her living room shivering, particularly during the cold snap which saw much of the country hit with a snow storm last month.

Karen, who is defined as clinically vulnerable and has been shielding since Covid-19 hit, added: “It looked like there had been a drug-bust at the house.

“I was always having to explain to people and visitors that it was my landlord’s fault.

“I hated people walking past and seeing my house like that for so long.

“Getting it sorted has made such a difference to the temperature inside, but there’s also much more light getting in.

“The winter is dark enough as it is, but my living room is so close to the front door that having it boarded up just made my house so depressing.

“I don’t have to use my back door to come in and out, which was also a worry if there was a fire.

“I feel a lot better in general, too, because I was struggling for a while.”

Home Group previously apologised for the delay.

Maintenance and contract manager William Mulheron said a supplier needed to furlough staff because of Covid-19 and this had put work on hold.

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