Couple say damp council house in Larkhall is making their lives a misery

Sep 29 2011 by Gary Fanning, Hamilton Advertiser

A YOUNG couple told this week how their council house which is riddled with dampness is making their lives a misery.

Gregg Nelson (24), and 23-year-old Stacey Crawford are disgusted by fungus growing on the walls and slugs appearing in the kitchen cupboards at their home in Scotia Crescent, Strutherhill.

Now the couple have been forced to live with Stacey’s mum until they are rehomed.

And they blasted South Lanarkshire Council bosses for not removing dirty syringes dumped in the front and back gardens before they moved there last month.

Security guard Gregg has deep vein thrombosis, osteoporosis and asthma, and takes Warfarin tablets to thin his blood. He had to get an emergency prescription after were slugs found in a box of tablets.

They couple say they are at their wits end and urge the council to rehouse them.

Gregg, who works with DFDS Logistics in Strutherhill Industrial Estate, said: “The house is not habitable.

“There are holes underneath the bath and it is causing dampness. There are also loose wires in the walls between the bathroom and kitchen.”

Admin and IT student Stacey suffered an electric shock while switching on a light in the kitchen.

“The council are aware of Gregg’s medical conditions,” she added. “They say that the house is damp proof.

“The smell in the house is vile because of the dampness.

“All our clothes smell and we have to take them away to get washed.

“This used to be a house where junkies lived and there are needles all over the front and back gardens and graffiti in the bin area.”

The couple have sunk all their savings into the house and are due to get married in 2013.

A council spokesman confirmed they have received complaints of dampness at the couple’s house and have pledged to resolve the problems.

“We have arranged to carry out a full assessment of the property this week at Mr Nelson’s convenience,” he said.

“Following this, we will carry out any remedial work required. Mr Nelson had not previously raised issues with us concerning the condition of the property.”