Across Scotland, too many tenants live in homes that are riddled with mould and damp and unfit for human habitation. This report examines the impact on tenants of living with mould and damp in Scotland’s largest social landlord, Glasgow’s Wheatley Homes.
The negative physical and mental health impacts of living with mould and damp are well documented. Mould and damp exposure leads to greater likelihood of respiratory problems, allergies, and asthma, especially for the most vulnerable groups of society, including babies, the elderly, and the immunocompromised.
Overall, our research highlights that many Wheatley Homes tenants live in mould and damp riddled properties, a situation which impacts their health. The research suggests that despite tenants raising this with their housing officers, Wheatley Homes has often failed to adequately and promptly evaluate and address the issues. Very few have received compensation.
- Extent of the issue: Our research surveyed 51 people, of which three quarters (74.5%) of respondents currently lived with mould and damp. Of those that currently lived with mould and damp, over a third (34.2%) of respondents said mould and damp have been a problem in their home for more than five years.
- Impact of the issue: Of those who have mould and damp, two thirds (68.6%) said that it has impacted their health and half of people (50%) with mould and damp experienced respiratory conditions such as asthma and COPD. Of those that have experienced health issues, nine out ten (90%) said it contributed to poor mental health.
- Response by Wheatley Homes: Wheatley says they will fix mould and damp within 15 days and visit mould and damp within two days. However, only one in ten (12%) reported that Wheatley Group had sent people to inspect the problem within two working days. Over a third (35.4%) of respondents who reported their mould and damp said that Wheatley Group have not yet taken any steps to fix it. Of the two thirds (61%) that have had work begin, three quarters (75%) say the problem is still not resolved.
- Compensation for damages: Nine out of ten (91%) tenants say that Wheatley did not offer compensation for damaged goods, rent rebates or energy vouchers. On a scale of 1 to 5 (with 1 being low), nearly two thirds (61.7%) of respondents gave Wheatley Homes a 1 for how seriously or urgently Wheatley treated their issues. A further two thirds (61.7%) rated their satisfaction with Wheatley’s response to their issue as 1.
You can read the report below.
