A Dundee mum says she is being forced to shower at a swimming pool or other people’s houses after part of her bathroom floor collapsed.
Ashley Cavanagh has hit “rock bottom” after a months-long wait for a repair in her Whitfield council house.
The Muirfield Gardens resident – who suffers with a skin condition and other health complications – says problems started back in January.
She now relies on using friends’ showers or even travels by bus to use the facilities at the leisure centre in Lochee.
The 49-year-old said: “I’m at rock bottom with what’s going on.
“My heel went through the floor in the bathroom while I was wiping down the splashbacks.
“I pulled back the lino and there was a hole. Had the lino not been there, I fear my foot would have gone through the floor.
“The council came and put a sheet of ply down as a temporary fix to cover the hole.
“Contractors came in February and took a price the job but there’s been no movement since.”
The mum-of-three took a decision to stop using the shower after the plywood began “dipping”.
She added: “My biggest fear is the floor around the shower is going to totally collapse.
“When I felt the ply start dipping I stopped using the shower for my own safety.
“I’m relying on friends to assist where they can but I’ve also been going to the swimming baths in Lochee to shower.
“Its been a back and forth with the council over the telephone, since the face-to-face inquires were axed.
“The whole process has left me feeling empty.”
Ashley also says proposals to install a bath to help with her skin condition have been put on hold as a result of the damage.
Council strike action blamed for delays
A spokesman for Dundee City Council has blamed recent strike action for delaying the repair.
He said: “We have carried out emergency repairs at the tenant’s property.
“We are engaged in the matter and undertaking the necessary steps to resolve the issue.
“Unfortunately, we are currently experiencing delays to some of our repairs service due to the backlog from the recent construction services strike action.
“We are continuing to tackle this backlog and to carry out the necessary repairs as soon as is practicable.”
An investigation by The Courier earlier this year found privately-rented homes ridden with mould, landlords harassing tenants and families in crisis.
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