An Edinburgh woman says she has been forced to live in a flat plagued with damp, rot and two holes in the ceiling for over a decade, exacerbating already-existing health issues and causing stress to her and her partner.
Danna Quinn says she has faced multiple restless nights over the last few years for emptying buckets of water that have filled up from the leaking ceiling at their property in Calder Gardens, and that despite several complaints to the council, nothing has been done to rectify the issues.
The 40-year-old suffers from a condition known as Fibromyalgia which causes long-term pain and tightness all over the body. Danna says in the cold months, she has to bathe in special bath salts numerous times a day but worries she will fall right through the floor if she fills the bath up, due to the current state of her bathroom.
Now, Danna says she feels at a loss, with the final word from the council being that all repairs have been completed, according to EdinburghLive.
She said: "There are about five or six holes around the flat and in every room. Every time it rains, water leaks through and in the winter, it's even colder. Contracted roofers have gone up in the past and ruled out a problem with the slates so we have no idea what is causing it.
"In recent years my health has declined to the point where I'm in constant pain and I need my body to be heated to avoid it stiffening up and going tight.
"It's got to the point where I'm having to pay to use sunbeds because of how cold and damp it is in the flat. We also have to keep the heating on for longer and given the cost of living crisis, we can't afford to keep doing that.
"According to the council, the roof is fixed. They have sent contractors who have assessed the damage and reported it back, saying it is an urgent issue, but nothing ever gets done despite years of phone calls to their housing team.
"Heaters have also fallen off the wall due to the damp and I've even had to beg for £50 for new wallpaper, which was made to look like I'm in the wrong."
Danna lives in the flat with her partner, Siobhan, and said the couple have faced constant problems ever since moving in 12 years ago. They both like the location, however, so are reluctant to move.
And although Danna has made the council aware of how issues at the address are impacting her health, she has never had the opportunity to anyone at the council higher than a housing officer, she claims.
Danna is not aware of anyone else in her small block of four flats having raised similar concerns in the past, either, but is worried that her neighbours may be experiencing similar leaks.
She continued: "Once we have to take the TV off the bracket on the wall as it fell off due to the water damage, you could see the drops running down the wall. A new wall in the bedroom also had to be built due to similar issues when we moved in.
"At this point, I'm just desperate for a bath and think it's time we looked for a ground floor flat. The smell of damp is also really strong and we aren't sleeping at the moment as one of us has to constantly wake up to empty the water from the buckets that are under each hole in the ceiling.
"I'm just disgusted to be honest and it's at the point where I'm not safe in my own home. It's shocking that every time we look out the window and see the rain start, that we know a hectic few days are on the cards.
"I wanted to mention one man on the council's housing team called David who tried to help us and refer the case to his higher-ups, he couldn't believe what we're dealing with."
Councillor Jane Meagher, Edinburgh Housing, Homelessness & Fair Work Convener, commented: "I’d like to apologise for the time taken to carry out these repairs. We have been in touch with the tenant today and updated them that the roof repairs are now completed and are arranging for remedial internal works to be carried out."
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