Whitburn woman told to fund housing move

Dec 8 2011 by Allan Valente, West Lothian Courier

A WHITBURN woman whose house has been riven with mould for nearly a decade has been told she needs to fund the move to a new property.

Mother-of-two Ann Alexander featured in the Courier in 2005 after the inside of her house in Broadfaulds Crescent became covered in a black soot-like dust.

With time the whole house became plagued by mould, forcing Ann to repeatedly spend money on new furniture and other items.

Her repeated request for a move was finally accepted recently when Almond Housing Association offered her a property elsewhere in West Lothian, which she has accepted.

But, just when Ann thought she was escaping her nightmare, the association removed their earlier offer of paying decoration and flooring costs which had been agreed following a meeting on November 18.

The association told Ann that any payment would be an admission of liability on their part, while they believe builders were actually to blame.

“The association told me to put together a list of what we needed for when we moved to the new place,” Ann said.

“But then they came back to me and said they wouldn’t actually be paying for anything in the end. I’ve just had enough now.

“The association say they are not liable for it but I pay my rent to them, not the builders. Who else do I go to? No lawyer will take my case on and I just cannot understand why.

“The housing association have told us that they need to move us so they can get the building works done. I have nothing to move in with now. My stuff is just in boxes and I just can’t afford new stuff again.”

Ann has spent around £6000 over the last eight years on essential works in the house, which has included buying new furniture, wardrobes, drawers, bookcases and carrying out painting work.

Ann, who moved into the property nearly nine years ago, received £1600 from the association in 2005 for carpets, a suite and blinds which had been ruined by the mould. On that occasion she had to sign a disclaimer to get the cash.

She had been advised to seek compensation from her insurers over the matter but was told that as it was an ongoing problem they wouldn’t get involved.

In October Ann enlisted the help of a forensic building expert from London who carried out a vigorous evaluation of the property when she was still struggling to get her move.

She said: “I’ve been told in the past that the building is retaining moisture and the problem stems from when it was built.

“A forensic building expert came up to look at the place and he was shocked by what he saw. He told us we shouldn’t be living like this.

“Myself and my two daughters, who have stayed at the house, have had health issues because of this as well.

“My 23-year-old daughter has hypermobility syndrome and my 14-year-old was diagnosed with asthma in May 2006.”

George Webster, chief executive of Almond Housing Association said: “It seems to be a very complex issue and we believe that it relates to a problem in the original construction of the property.

“We are discussing this with the builders and with a forensic building expert to try and resolve what has been a difficult problem.

“It may be that it would be best for all concerned that our tenant is relocated either temporarily or permanently in order to allow further investigation and potential remedial work.

“We are working with our tenant to agree a solution to what has been a difficult situation for her as swiftly as possible.”