Belle Dean is demanding the flat’s owners, Czech Real, take action to sort out the problem.
A disgusted woman says her home has become unliveable after human waste flooded her back garden.
Belle Deans said she has been cut off from using her back yard because of issues with pipework at a neighbouring flat. It is resulting in waste, including excrement, ending up outside her property and back door.
The sickened Port Glasgow woman is demanding the flat’s owners, Czech Real, take action to sort out the problem once and for all. Belle says she’s already had to contend with putrid sewage coming up through her shower and toilet in December, which took weeks to fix, and fears it could happen again if action isn’t taken soon.
She says the dampness in her walls is forcing her to choose between keeping the windows closed and breathing in damp air, or opening them and letting in the offensive odour of the waste from outside.
She said: “I’m too ashamed to have anybody come and visit me here. I think all the neighbours feel the same.
“Even sitting on the couch, I get breathless. I was basically living in my bedroom.
“I can’t sit in there any more because of the sewage out there.”
Belle believes the dampness is caused by a box gutter that overflows during heavy rain, which serves multiple flats in the close. Belle’s landlord, Chesnutt Skeoch, and RCH, who factor a neighbouring property, are currently locked in a dispute about who is responsible for resolving the problem.
She said the situation has taken a ‘terrible’ toll on her mental and physical health and has worsened the depression and anxiety from which she already suffers. Belle says she struggles to get the energy to do anything, but when she does get out, to distract herself, she says she dreads the thought of returning home.
Linda Kernican, who lives in the flat next to Belle’s, says the ‘disgusting’ situation makes her feel ill, and the waste is ‘ruining’ her floors. Linda’s landlord, Czech Real, were contacted about the issue, but did not respond.
A spokesperson for Chesnutt Skeoch insisted that fixing the guttering which had caused the dampness was RCH’s responsibility, and said they reported the issue to the housing association on January 16.
An RCH representative said: “Following notification of an issue of dampness at 26 Highholm Road, we conducted an inspection which confirmed the downpipe at number 26 is currently discharging directly into the gutter at 24 Highholm Road.
“During heavy rain, this results in significantly higher water volumes that exceed the capacity of the gutter at number 24. To rectify the impact on our factored property at 24, we have carried out minor remedial works.
“However, our specialist has advised that the guttering at number 26 should have its own independent downpipe fitted. As we hold no ownership or factoring responsibilities for number 26, we are unfortunately unable to undertake any works at that address, where repairs remain the responsibility of the respective owners. We will continue to maintain the block at number 24 as necessary.”
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