A young Scots mum is unable to bath her newborn son or sterilise his bottles at home after being left three weeks without hot water. As well as suffering with no heating or hot water, Demi Coleman also has black grime coming out of her kitchen sink and washing machine.
The 28-year-old, who lives in Leith's Banana Flats, is desperate for something to be done as she fears her children are at risk. She has slammed the council for failing to provide alternative accommodation, despite her desperately trying to relocate for the past four years.
Mum-of-two Demi said the flat at Cables Wynd House has had issues with black water overflowing from her sink for four years due to issues with old pipes. The horrible grime is also being flushed through her washing machine, leaving her unable to wash her children's clothes.
As reported in Edinburgh Live, Demi said: "I've lived here for about ten years and for four years now a problem with the pipes has been causing my sink to erupt with dirty water due to repeated blockages which the council just blame on the building being old.
"I've got a newborn baby and a four-year-old who I've not been able to bath or wash their clothes in clean water since the start of the month as I've had no heating or hot water. A health visitor has also recommended to the council that I be moved due to safety and health risks, but it hasn't made a difference.
"I can't even wash my baby's bottles in clean and sterile water and my oldest boy suffers with asthma and has been unwell numerous times. He was recently sick and I couldn't even shower him properly in hot water, it's not fair on either of them.
"I had to call the council's emergency repair team over the weekend when the sink was blocked again and pouring out black water. A plumber said there was a severe blockage and had to contact am emergency jetter who got rid of the problem but they've done it before and it doesn't work long term.
"I'm having to take my kids to my mum's as they're used to being bathed before bed. The council have also told me they can provide blow heaters but I obviously can't afford to have two of those on the go non-stop."
Pupil support worker Demi has returned home multiple times to find the dirty water overflowing and spilling onto the floor as rainfall aggravates the issue.
On December 13, a gas engineer visited the home to carry out conversion works on her boiler but did not have the necessary parts, leaving Demi with another week of no hot water. Another engineer attended the property on December 20 and is carry out repairs to ensure Demi and her two children can have a Christmas with heating and hot water.
As well as issues inside the property, Demi has also raised concerns regarding the safety of her children after her nephew found an unused needle and she discovered several used spoons in the stairwell.
She said: "I have shown my housing officer video evidence of this and still I am not getting help. Each time I come in my stair to get to my flat with both my boys there is always drug addicts sitting in the stair taking their drugs and smoking all sorts.
"I have found needles and spoons in the stair that I have to walk up and down with my children. It’s got to the point where this is really affecting my mental health now and the house in general is now affecting both my boy's health. I don’t feel safe living here at all. I am a single mother on my own with my boys and having drug addicts coming to my door, it’s really scary."
Am Edinburgh City Council spokesperson said: “We appreciate the impact these issues are having on our tenant. We are working with them to resolve the issues in their home as quickly as possible and will provide support to explore alternative housing options.”
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