The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Six-hour round trip for student who fled damp-afflicted home
Perth College pupil moved back with parents after leaving flat
A college student endures a six-hour round trip to Perth because mould and condensation is being left untreated in her former flat.
Anna Rutkowska, 21, now travels from Mintlaw, north of Aberdeen, after moving back into her parents’ home in August.
She said she no longer feels able to live in Perth due to the stress of dealing with issues in her Inchaffrey Street flat.
She said she was assured any signs of mould would be treated before she moved in but claimed the letting agency failed to do so, despite her regularly expressing concerns.
After nearly 11 months, she gave up and returned to Aberdeenshire.
She said: “When I moved in it was only painted over on the walls and not treated in any way.
“I had sent emails to the agency, yet nothing was getting done. Then the mould and condensation started getting a lot worse. I had to wait for the bathroom fan to be fixed for five weeks, which made the ceiling turn black.
“I had no wardrobe to keep my clothes as they were going mouldy in the one I had and they smelled.
“I spent a fortune on electricity as my heaters were always on during the set times. I had my windows open constantly, even when I was going away.
“I risked leaving the windows open as I wanted there to be ventilation while the heaters were on.
“I eventually didn’t know what to do any more as I was in Perth by myself with no family. It got too much for me.”
Anna, who is studying Contemporary Art and Contextualised Practice at the college, said the impact on her mental health was severe.
She was in hospital for two days as she struggled to deal with the issues.
A spokesperson for the agency which let the flat, Perthshire Property Services, confirmed specialists have visited the property.
A senior surveyor’s findings concluded there was an issue with condensation and mould and heating, ventilation and insulation should be increased to combat it.
The spokesperson added: “When we do have condensation problems in properties we issue tenants with a letter to inform them how to avoid mould.”