A Scots single dad-of-five was ‘left in the lurch with two buckets’ to collect water after his 12th-floor flat flooded. Daniel Atkins, 26, is livid after his home in Glasgow became ‘uninhabitable’ due to a suspected plumbing issue higher up the housing block.
Video footage shared by Daniel reveals water dripping from the ceilings of two rooms in the property, including the kitchen. Walls in the living room and one other room look as though they are totally saturated while a pile of toys belonging to his young daughters are ‘ruined’.
Daniel, from Drumchapel, said his home is ‘soaking, stinking and uninhabitable’ thanks to the leaks. The flat belongs to social landlord Wheatley Homes Glasgow who are allegedly yet to disclose what caused the damage.
Daniel, a mental health support worker, is livid due to the alleged lack of action from Wheatley Housing after the issue arose. Speaking to Glasgow Live, Daniel said: “The flat is soaking and stinking, there is water everywhere. It’s uninhabitable for my daughters and I.
“My four eldest daughters are due to stay with me this weekend. They’re aged eight, seven, four and two.
“The two eldest have asthma, they can’t stay here with the condition it’s in. My hall carpet is drenched and a pile of their toys are ruined.
“Wheatley Housing still haven’t told me exactly what has caused the leaks. It’s ridiculous.”
Daniel claims he stayed at his mother’s house over the weekend, also in Drumchapel. Yesterday at around 1.30pm he allegedly got a call from a housing officer.
“She said told me there had been a leak in my flat and properties in the four floors below me were affected too,” Daniel added. “I rushed home, saw the state my flat was in and my housing officer went to the floor above.
“She eventually told me the issue was upstairs but didn’t know exactly where the leak was coming from. I eventually got two buckets from concierge but that was it.”
Wheatley Homes Glasgow offered accommodation in Renfrew’s Normandy Hotel while the issue was being resolved, with a £50 payment to cover other expenses such as travel. “That £50 would have been nowhere near enough, I can’t take my girls there plus I help look after my mother who has a number of health conditions,” Daniel said.
The dad claims he called Wheatley Homes Glasgow on Wednesday morning where one worker said ‘no account had been actioned’ regarding the flood. As of 11.45am on Wednesday Daniel said he had not heard back from Wheatley Homes.
At 2.40pm on Wednesday he told Glasgow Live that Wheatley Homes Glasgow finally got back in touch, offering more suitable accommodation for him and for his daughters over the weekend. Housing officers apologised for the inconvenience caused.
Wheatley Homes Glasgow were contacted for comment and just before 5pm on Wednesday a spokesman told Glasgow Live: “We’ve very sorry for any delay in the tenant receiving his payment. To help cover his costs, we’ll increase the payment and put it into his account this afternoon.
“We have also found him a hotel which is closer to his home where he can stay until his flat is ready. Our repairs team have fixed the leak in the block.
“We’ll carry out any repairs needed to the tenant’s flat and arrange for the family to get back in as soon as possible.”
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