A mum-of-four was served with an eviction notice by a "contemptuous" letting agency after she tried to raise concerns about mould in her Glasgow home.
Pierette Tchialu, 46, and her four kids aged 20, 17, 14 and 10 have lived in the flat for years, which is managed by Dennistoun-based letting agency 1-2-Let. However, the three-bedroom home has a serious problem with mould and damp in the bathroom and bedrooms, exacerbated by a lack of heaters in the upstairs rooms and a lack of vents in the windows.
Housing action union Living Rent stepped in to support her, and put pressure on the agency until it recently agreed to install gas heaters. However, the damage has already been done – Pierette has replaced the carpet out of her own pocket and has had to throw out clothes ruined by the damp living conditions.
She also claims the real problems causing the mould are not being addressed. The ceilings remain caked in black mould and parts of the walls, floors and ceiling are flaking away.
Pierette said: “The conditions I have lived in with my family were inhuman. I have been in this house for eleven years, and until very recently 1-2-Let never came to fix the house.
"Me and my family, we’ve been living with mould, cold and damp since 2020. In 2021 I was complaining to 1-2-Let. Nothing has been done.
"The condition of my house affects my health, because I had Covid in April and May 2020. Since then, I have suffered from symptoms of long Covid and have had to spend long periods in bed.
"I was depressed. All of us have skin problems because of the condition of my house.
"The family home was cold and damp and overcrowded, the walls have been damaged badly by damp. After contacting the landlord various times, the support I received has been insufficient and very late.”
Living Rent says 1-2-Let has fitted an extractor fan in the bathroom and painted over the mould, but has taken no action to compensate Pierette, who is suffering from the effects of long Covid. And after she raised the concerns, she was served with an eviction notice requiring her and her family to be out of the home by September.
On Saturday, the union protested outside 1-2-Let's Dennistoun offices, demanding it brings Pierette's home up to standard and cancels the eviction notice. It had sought to negotiate with the letting agent on her behalf, but 1-2-Let has cut off communications after claiming the family "need[ed] to take more care when having showers or baths" to avoid a build-up of mould.
A Living Rent spokesperson said: "1-2-Let’s response to the letter sent by the union has shown the total contempt they have for our member and other tenants they rent to. The fact that Pierrette and her children have been forced to live in unsafe housing for such a long period of time shows the sorry state of housing in Scotland at this time.
"They have a responsibility to provide safe and liveable housing and have consistently failed to do so. The union will continue to stand with Pierrette in demanding justice for her and her family.”
A spotlight has been shone on the topic of mould build-up in rented accommodation following the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in Rochdale, Manchester in 2020. The tot died of a respiratory condition caused by black mould in his home, which a coroner deemed "unfit for human habitiation".
The cost-of-living crisis has seen people turn down heating or turn it off altogether, running the risk of encouraging mould growth in their homes as they try to keep on top of bills. The Record has reported several stories of private and social housing tenants who have found themselves dealing with a build-up of spores.
Living Rent claims reports of mould and damp in homes has risen 20% over the last year, while a Shelter Scotland survey in 2021 found 11% of adults had significant damp, mould or condensation issues in their home.
Pierette, meanwhile, hopes to secure social housing, but with a family of four has found herself stuck on the waiting list for years. Housing associations in the area say they have no four-bed accommodation that would allow the family to live comfortably.
The Record did not receive a response from 1-2-Let following requests for comment. Calls to the firm's Dennistoun office went unanswered on Saturday.
However, writing in the comments section of this article, a Daily Record website user claiming to represent the letting agency said Living Rent were not in full possession of the "facts" of Pierette's situation. The user, the identity of which the Record has not been able to verify, claims Pierette is not heating or ventilating the home properly.
They also claim that she was offered alternative accommodation, and was given notice to quit so a full refurbishment could be carried out. The user added: "Both the landlord and letting agency has tried our best to work with the tenants, however she has made it near impossible.
"It's our view that the tenant is using this publicity simply in an attempt to get the right size of property for her from social housing. However this is nothing to do with the landlord or letting agent."
A 1-2-Let spokesperson said: "1-2-Let refutes these allegations. The property complies with the repairing standard and the images are old.
"The mould was as a result of the tenants not adequately heating and ventilating the property. The tenant refused to put electric heaters on due to cost, and the property's heating was recently upgraded to GCH.
"The landlord even provided a credit to her gas account for £150 in order to help. We completely understand that the cost of living is having a major impact on many households throughout the UK. Despite all this, the landlord has never increased the tenants rent over the last 10 years.
"Delays in getting works taking place was due to the tenant not proving access. Notice was given for September as it was looking near impossible to refurbish an overcrowded property, however this can be reviewed.
"The agency has also offered alternative accommodation, however this was declined as the tenant only wants "social housing". We understand that the council has also offered accommodation, but this was also declined."
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