A tenants group has vowed to take Dundee City Council to court unless it sees a significant improvement in the authority”s treatment of residents of two demolition-earmarked multi-storey blocks.
The Derby Street Multis Residents Association, which represents tenants in Butterburn and Bucklemaker courts, has written to the four Coldside councillors inviting them to a meeting next week at which they will outline their various concerns about the council’s attitude towards the remaining tenants.
Among the main issues to be raised is the alleged pressure placed on residents to move to new housing which they have found to be unsuitable for their needs.
The association is also claiming that tenants are not being offered “like for like” homes and alleges residents are being asked to prove they have access to their children in order to “qualify” for a home with more than one bedroom.
Issues relating to relocation costs to a new home, fuel payments and the council’s duty to maintain standards at Bucklemaker and Butterburn courts until they have been cleared have also been raised.
Association secretary Sarah Glynn said residents had expressed concerns about their treatment during the group’s recent annual meeting.
She said they were living in an “increasingly intolerable situation” and steps had to be taken to alleviate the residents’ concerns.
She said the group was prepared to seek legal recourse unless the council’s attitude towards residents improved significantly.
She said, “At our well-attended AGM, serious concerns were raised about the council’s treatment of the remaining tenants and its failure to provide reasonable offers of alternative accommodation.
“The council made the decision to demolish the buildings, and they have a duty to enable tenants to get on with their lives.
“Tenants are living in increasingly rundown surroundings. No one wants to spend time and money on redecoration-and some have already packed up many of their belongings but have nowhere to go to.
“It is imperative that the council responds to tenants’ needs, and tenants have resolved to stick together and act through the residents’ association to avoid anyone being forced into unacceptable accommodation or being made to lose money.
“We are prepared to defend tenants’ rights in court if necessary, but of course we hope that these issues can be resolved well before they reach that stage.”
Steve Boyd, residents’ association chairman, said those left in the towers felt they were being “rail-roaded” by the council into accepting houses that were not suitable. He and wife Moira had been offered two houses that they considered a “disgrace.”
A city council spokesman last night said all tenants who were moved received “fair and reasonable” offers of alternative housing.
He said, “The housing department always works closely with tenants who have to move. The reason they are having to move is it is not possible to bring these multis up to the modern standards we have to provide for all our tenants.
“Fair and reasonable offers of alternative housing are always made so tenants can enjoy all the benefits of a more modern home.”