A group of Midlothian locals say their homes have been plagued with foul smelling water 'for years'.
A number of residents, living in council flat block in Waverley Crescent, Bonnyrigg, say they can't afford to pay privately for repairs that would improve the situation.
The local- authority-owned building does house some private residents, but they still also contain council tenants as well. The building hot water runs from large water tanks on the roof of the building.
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One resident, Christy Solsbey, told Edinburgh Live: “In 2019 when I was in labour, I ran a bath and my aunt and sister told me the water smelled foul. I came back a couple of days later and it was still really bad. We phoned the council and told me that there was nothing they could do for us because we aren’t a council tenant.
“We kept pushing it. We pay a surplus to the council for our heating and hot water and it’s all run off of these tanks on the roof. Of course, they’re council property so when we have hired private plumbers to come out they tell us that even if they could get in, they’re not allowed to maintain it. The council has also told us that the private plumbers can’t maintain it.
“Yet when we phone the council, if you’re not a council tenant, they will not come out to deal with it.
“Recently, I had no water coming out of my bath. I phoned the council and they refused to come out but we do have a council tenant above us who phoned and told the council they had the same problem.”
However, according to Christy, the problem wasn’t resolved by the council plumber and she continued to have no hot water coming from the taps fed by the water tank on the roof.
Christy continued: “The clerk of works told us we are welcome to get our own plumber out to have a look. I asked him that if I pay for our own plumber to come out will anyone let him in? I was told no. I asked if I got a plumber out will he be able to work on it? And I was also told no, they’re not allowed to work on it.”
Lillian Keegan, who lives on the top floor of the building, directly under the water tank. She says she has had to deal with leaking water flowing into her kitchen and can’t remember any maintenance being carried out on the tank the entire time she has lived here.
She said: “This has gone on for years. The council has just done nothing, they fob you off.
“We pay money to the council every month for this. I’ve lived here for 50 years and I can’t remember anyone going up through my flat to maintain the tank.
"I have leaks in the cupboard and there has been water just running down the wall. Even when you open the door it smells like dampness. I'm older now and I'm on my own and they just don't care."
A spokesperson from Midlothian council said: “The council sent out a plumber to the address on 8 August to check the two tanks for an air lock following reports of low water pressure. No issues were found.
“Two of the six properties at the address are resided by council tenants. We have no objection to one of the owner occupiers employing a private plumber if necessary as long as all residents have been notified and have given approval.
“We would need to see evidence of three quotes for the work as proof of value for money and the plumbers would have to be VAT registered. The council would pay for a two-sixth share of the cost of any repair work if work needed to be done.”
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