Most of my stuff is in a skip because of mouldy house
Woman says damp has ruined personal possessions
A West Lothian woman says she will have to throw out just about everything she owns as it has all been ruined by damp in her flat.
Heather Skillen says she has complained to the council about damp and mould every year for the past four years since she moved into her one-bedroom home at Townhead Gardens in Whitburn.
Heather said the problem is so bad that water seeps up through her carpets when she walks on them and she has found bugs in her kitchen.
And while she says she is finally being decanted whilst the problem is fixed, she says that it has taken so long that all her furniture “is getting thrown in a skip”.
Heather (55) said the moisture has ruined her possessions and she goes into work “smelling of damp.”
She explained: “I’ve been decanted and everything that’s in the house will have to be skipped.
“It’s that bad.
“They asked me if I want the carpets back down, but they’re ruined. There was water coming up through them.
“The house was like brand new when I moved in. I’ve been there four years and every winter I’ve complained about the damp.
“If they had dealt with it properly at the beginning it wouldn’t have come to this.
“It has been so nice where I’ve been living, to be not breathing in damp and waking up and not having my clothes smell of damp.
“All the houses are like this on the block.
“I don’t know how long I’ll be out, but I don’t see the point in going back.
“They need to fix the whole block or the damp will just come back.”
A spokesperson for West Lothian Council said: “We are aware of the circumstances and officers have been in regular contact with the tenant.
“The tenant has been living in temporary accommodation since the beginning of February to allow repairs to be carried out.
“Those necessary repairs are expected to be completed at the property before the beginning of March.”