Leak leaves George shivering in home

A COUNCIL tenant fears his ceiling may collapse after a persistent water leak from another local authority property was “ignored”.

George Wotherspoon’s new year got off to a damp start due to water leaking into his property from an upstairs flat for a second time over the festive holidays.

The 58-year-old has had “sleepless nights” making regular bucket changes to catch the brown water leaking into his home on Byron Street, Coldside.

George switched his boiler off last Tuesday – despite outside temperatures plunging below zero – because the water had dripped on to it.

He said he feared it would be “dangerous” to now turn the boiler back on.

George added: “The initial problem started on Christmas Eve and to Dundee City Council’s credit a plumber came and went into the property above and sorted it out.

“Unfortunately, whatever measures were taken were only temporary, as the problem started again on New Year’s Eve.

“I was assured someone would be out to deal with it there and then.

“There is brown water coming down into the pail but it is also going on to the boiler.

“As a result I haven’t put the heating on since the start of last week as I feel with the water coming in it could be dangerous.

“Since turning the heating off I’ve actually been wearing two pairs of pyjamas at night just to keep warm.”

He added: “A joiner came out on Monday and said due to it being a public holiday there was nothing he could do.

“I was advised to hang on another day. No one appeared the following day but the water started to come from behind the washing machine as well.”

George said he is “fed-up” with the response from the council and contacted Coldside councillor Anne Rendall to ask if she could help.

He added: “She advised someone was coming out on Wednesday but no one appeared.

“By the time it got to Friday, my concern was the ceiling in the kitchen was starting to part company because of the water coming in.

“I’m basically having sleepless nights because I’m changing the pail frequently and I’m worried the roof is going to cave in.

“If it wasn’t for Covid-19 I would have just shut the door and gone back to live with family in Kirkcaldy because of what has happened.”

A council spokesman said the local authority was “taking steps” to resolve the matter.

He added: “We are engaged in this matter and undertaking the necessary steps to resolve the issue.”

George Wotherspoon in the kitchen of his home on Byron Street.