Tenant Endures Severe Mould and Damp in Aberdeen Council Flat
A council tenant in Aberdeen has revealed that the mould and damp conditions in his flat have become so severe that he has been compelled to sleep in the living room for the past three years.
Gary Bennett, aged 54, who suffers from fibromyalgia and emphysema, explained that the poor conditions have adversely affected his health. He often goes camping with friends as a means to escape the property.
"It's had a massive effect, not only physically but mentally," Bennett told BBC Scotland News.
Aberdeen City Council stated that it is in direct communication with the tenant regarding the issue.
Bennett has resided in the two-bedroom flat located in the Woodend area of Aberdeen since March 2007. Despite numerous requests to the council over the years, he reports that only temporary "band-aid" repairs have been performed.
Recently, the mould and damp have worsened due to a hole in the roof, which Bennett is also seeking to have repaired.
He expressed that he feels unable to invite his two granddaughters to visit because of the damage to the walls, carpets, and chairs.
"Enough is enough for me," he said.
"Imagine 20 years breathing this stuff in. It's not easy getting up in this filth every single day.
"It's really, really having a huge, huge effect on my health. It's soul-destroying."
Regarding his bedroom, Bennett stated:
"I can't see anybody wanting to sleep in here."
He described spending time outdoors camping and fishing as a way to "reset".
When asked about his current situation, Bennett said:
"I just need some help.
"Sometimes they'll wash it and then paint over it. I need them (the council) to take it seriously and go 'right, we're going to do whatever it takes'.
"Ultimately, I'd like them to fix the problem."
He added:
"I'm kind of stuck here, everything that I've tried to do with the council just falls on deaf ears.
"Why they feel it's okay to leave somebody for 20 years in a mouldy environment is beyond me."
Council Response and New Measures in Scotland
An Aberdeen City Council spokesperson commented:
"We are aware of concerns raised and we are working with our tenant and will continue to liaise directly with them."
New legislation is being introduced in Scotland aimed at making it easier for social housing tenants to have damp and mould issues in their homes addressed.
This initiative follows the Awaab's Law campaign, named after two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who tragically died from mould exposure in Rochdale in 2020.
Background on Awaab's Law
In 2022, a coroner concluded that toddler Awaab Ishak died from a respiratory condition caused by exposure to mould in his home. His father, Faisal Abdullah, had repeatedly raised concerns with Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH), but no remedial action was taken.
Following this, campaigners called for reforms, prompting the previous Conservative government to review guidelines on mould.
Changes to the law in England, enacted through the Social Housing (Regulation) Act, received royal assent in July 2023. These changes include new measures addressing damp and mould, collectively referred to as Awaab's Law.
Awaab's father expressed hope that the legal changes would:
"stop any other family going through the pain that we went through".
