A man, who wishes to remain unnamed, was not able to cook for months due to the bitter smell from untreated damp in his kitchen. The council tenant was awarded £1,000 in compensation following the ordeal.
The man waited two years for the council to fix the problem, after some areas needed repairing because of water damage. The Housing Ombudsman has issued a report about the man's situation, where the regulator found “severe” failings.
The report also said the tenant had suffered “unnecessary trouble, frustration and distress.” Leeds City Council has apologised, saying its services had been badly affected by Covid-related delays. In October 2020, the council sent contractors to the home to assess the repairs that needed to be done following the water damage.
