An Edinburgh woman says she feels like she's "living in a slum" as the grass around her flat has not been maintained at all this year.
Angela Robinson, 53, lives with her husband Raymond, 66, who struggles with his mobility and has not been in the garden in 2022 due to the 'jungle' growing outside the building.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live, Angela said that as well as her husband, who has a walking stick, a fellow neighbour, who requires a wheelchair to get around, is also struggling to access the building,
Angela's flat on Stein Street, South Queensferry, is owned by Link Housing, and all 12 tenants pay a fee of £10 a month, added to their rent to maintain the stair and outdoor garden.
The organisation has since apologised to the residents and says it will take action.
Residents say the grass outside has not been attended to since the end of last year and Angela says the nettles are so big, that they're reaching the windowsills of their ground-floor flat.
Angela said: "I think the last cut was around September/October last year, which is normal, but then it should have been cut again around February/March time.
"Nobody has been at all this year, I've phoned and I've phoned. It's a beautiful estate we stay in, our flats are for social renting and the rest of the estate is absolutely immaculate.
"We stick out like a sore thumb and it's embarrassing. When you drive or walk up, it looks like you're coming into a slum.
"I'm not alone, the rest of the tenants in the block feel the same. I've contacted Link Housing numerous times since April and still nothing has been done about it. They've assured me each time that someone is on the way."
Angela added that if her granddaughter were to lie down in the grass outside, you wouldn't be able to see her.
She said that after buying a table and chairs, as well as a washing line, with summer approaching, her and her husband have still not made it outside this year.
She continued: "Now, the jaggy nettles are coming up over our windows.
"The people at Link Housing who deal with the complaints assured me that they would call me back the next day, but nothing. I first contacted them in April and I've chased them sometimes three or four times a week.
"I actually spoke to them this morning, June 10, but they refused to put me through to anyone else as they would just give me the same response as I've been getting so far, that they don't have a contractor for.
"I've stayed in this specific block of flats for four years and its never been a problem until now.
"We pay our rent and a factoring fee is included, which includes maintaining the garden and keeping the stairs clean, but even when they come to do that they don't do it properly, they're in and out within five minutes.
"When I look out, I feel down and depressed looking at it so I can just imagine what the rest of our neighbours are thinking looking at it. I've said to them numerous times, we're paying for a service that we're not getting.
"I phoned today, June 10, and they asked if I wanted to make the complaint a stage two type, but I said no as it would take 20 days to hear back from them, I said I wanted something done quicker than that."
Link spokesperson said: “We have been made aware of issues relating to standards of grounds maintenance works undertaken by our contractor at our homes in South Queensferry, and have written to customers who have been impacted by this to apologise.
“We have also notified customers that we are working closely with the contractor to resolve the issues as a priority and to ensure normal service resumes as soon as possible.
“An action plan been put in place to ensure all outstanding work is delivered in full, and, where any further or supporting works are identified or required, these will be completed at cost by the contractor or Link.
“Our primary focus at this time is to ensure the level of service is restored over the next few weeks.”
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