Gran living with mushrooms in damp Glasgow flat without water for a year

A gran has told how she has been living without hot water for a year in a damp flat, which has mushrooms growing beside the toilet.

Krima Al Edanee, who has had a heart bypass and who has breathing problems, boils the kettle to wash her dishes.

And every time she cleans the mushrooms from her bathroom they grow back again.

Krima who lives in Burnbank Terrace off Great Western Road had to paint over mould in her bedroom and there is also dampness in a storage cupboard.

The grandmother-of-two can’t turn on the heating due to the problems with the boiler.

The 62-year-old said: “Winter is coming. There is no heating and I don’t know what to do. I have no hot water and there is dampness. I’m scared to look behind the bed or sofa in case I find more dampness. I am not happy.”

She added: “It is impacting my health. I clear the mushrooms away – the next day I find them again.”

The problems have been reported to Queens Cross Housing Association a number of times but Krima claimed they have not taken enough enough action to sort out the problems.

When she turns on the boiler water gushes outside her front door – so she has been forced to leave it off.

Faten Hameed, of the Scottish Iraqi Association, contacted the housing association on Krima’s behalf to get help as English is not her first language.

Faten said: “I have been contacting the association since May about the issues. Repairs need to be done.
“The tenant is not well and doesn’t speak English as a first language. She is washing dishes by boiling the kettle as the boiler doesn’t work properly.”

A Queens Cross Housing Association spokeswoman said: “The gas combination boiler in Mrs Al Edanee’s home was serviced in May 2022 and again this year when it was in good working order and we have had no reports of issues with the hot water supply since then.

“High energy costs have had a significant impact on tenants and we know that many have reduced or stopped using their heating system. Along with many other tenants, Mrs Al Edanee has received energy advice and grant funded support from our Financial Wellbeing team as part of our service.

“Sadly, we are coming across more and more households where the massive hikes in energy costs are causing real distress including tenants’ ability to maintain a warm home. We raised this issue with Ofgem earlier in the year but have had no response to date.

“We completed repairs and decorative work in Mrs Al Edanee’s home last month when a small leak was identified in the bathroom that caused some fungal growth. Pipework boxing was removed so that the area could dry out.

“We have visited Mrs Al Edanee several times in the last few months and will continue to support and work closely with her to resolve any issues raised concerning her home.”