Gran forced to leave her home due to leak from flat above which caused ceiling to collapse

The 63-year-old has been out working to pay the mortgage but cannot return to her ground floor flat and has been relying on a community group and a councillor for help.

The cashier said she has been staying with family and friends for about a year because of the leakage problems.

She said she returns to the property in the Easterhouse area in Lochdochart Road every week to empty buckets and dry the floor.

The bath leak has been coming from a flat above – rented out through a letting agency Easy Let.

The gran who does not want to be named said: “It has been an absolute nightmare. This started off as a drip – it could have been prevented. I only want to be back in my house that I am working to pay for. Getting home is the main thing.”

There was a previous leak last year at the address at 2 /01, which was fixed but another drip has since started and the ceiling collapsed about 10 weeks ago according to the resident.

Councillor Maureen Burke, Labour, has been trying to get help for the resident alongside Denmilne Community Action Group.

Thanks to their intervention workers from the council’s City Building arrived to look at the leak on Friday as it was considered a hazard by environmental health.

Since then the water has been turned off due to issues including a tank in the communal loft, which it is feared is in danger of crashing through a “rotten” floor.

Denmilne Community Action Group chair Dennis Docherty said: “The resident has been sofa surfing while working to pay the mortgage. We were contacted and got Councillor Burke involved to help. There have been multiple leaks. ”

Councillor Burke has called for the council to “consider enforcement action.”

She said: “There are families with young children living in this close and they have no running water. It is a disgrace.”

Patricia Gowans, group treasurer, said: “The whole area is suffering with these type of problems. People come to us for help as these issues are impacting their mental health and home owners are left out of pocket. The water was turned off in the close – it is a severe health and safety issue.”

Group vice chair Jan Maguire said: “We help private owners who have issues and don’t know who to turn to. We are glad City Building came to help get this sorted.”

The groups are calling on landlords to take action to fix the issues.

A representative from Easy Let and Maintenance said: “As discussed, I can confirm that we are aware of ongoing issues at the property and are working closely with the tenant, landlord and our contractors to rectify the situation as quickly as possible.”