Kitchen horror: black mould invasion (Image: Milligan )
Persistent mould and damp drove an asthma sufferer from her social housing home and now her future seems more precarious than ever.
It was in June last year that childcare worker Selina Milligan first got in touch about the disastrous state of the kitchen in her flat in Glasgow. Plagued by soaking wet walls, invasive black stains and crumbling plaster Selina and her son despaired of getting repairs that lasted.
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Selina’s landlord is Sanctuary Scotland, part of the Sanctuary Housing Association. “My doctor has warned me about the impact on my health,” she told Crusader.
For years Selina had lived without problem in the block but in November 2022 the trouble started. “Contractors painted over the mould, but this didn’t work,” she added.
Initially Sanctuary’s replies to Crusader were prompt and positive as a succession of fixes were tried. These ranged from cleaning the building’s clogged gutters and pipes to checking the roof.
In June 2023 the company confirmed: “Various repairs were immediately carried out including the installation of a number of vented roof tiles above Miss Milligan’s kitchen and clearing any blockages.
“A follow-up visit from a surveyor established that the repairs completed had been effective and that any ongoing water ingress internally had been stopped and that the kitchen wall was dry. We have now agreed for the internal remedial work required in her home to be completed on Monday 17 July.”
But the damp invasion continued and that halted further repairs last December. Referring to the previous work Sanctuary said in January: “The use of a damp meter confirmed that the walls were indeed dry.”
More inspections were scheduled with scaffolding erected. The landlord added: “We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused. Regrettably, we are unable to provide a definitive reason for the new water leak at this stage but please be assured that Sanctuary is fully committed to rectifying the issue as promptly as possible.”
But Selina’s experience differs. “There have been times when the contractors did not show up and then scaffolding put up on the wrong side of the building. It has all been very haphazard,” she says. “Sometimes I wasn’t available as I had to work, but also the air is so poor in the flat I can’t go in, but I have left my key with a neighbour.”
While Selina says she is paying her way now, for a while she didn’t because managing two rents was too much. Sanctuary is now taking her to court for £5,000 of rent arrears followed by possible eviction. Selina has legal support. “But it’s all still a nightmare,” she says, “and so unfair. All we ever wanted was for the problems to be fixed so we could live in a dry home.”
Sanctuary has been contacted for comment.