Edinburgh mum 'spend nights crying' in homeless accommodation with family
An Edinburgh mum has spoken out after she was faced with a string of issues when she moved into homeless accommodation.
Alex McNicoll, 30, moved into a two-bed flat in Gracemount with her partner and two young children in August 2023. However, when she arrived, she said she was met with a damaged front door, black mould and damp.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live, the young mum said she reached a breaking point when her toilet broke on Saturday with human waste flooding over the floor.
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Alex said: "It has been nothing but issues since we moved in. When we got here. It looked like someone had kicked the front door in, there was a hole in it and the security glass was smashed. Someone got sent out but fixed it with just plywood and silicone. That doesn't feel secure!
"I was left without a working shower for three days when I first got the keys, there was black mould and when the damp inspector came round, he told me to clean it myself. But there is so much condensation and the wallpaper is bubbling up. It feels so damp, especially in the built-in wardrobes.
"Last November, the temperature inside dropped to 6C, and that was with the heating on. The windows have been replaced but there is still damp. My daughter has been put on an inhaler," she added.
Alex said she has put dehumidifiers throughout the house and in the wardrobes in an attempt to tackle the issue but feels like it's a losing battle.
She continued: "On Saturday, the toilet broke. Old sewage and human waste were coming up from the drains and overflowing. It was disgusting and I have two kids. I feel like we are living in a health hazard. I reported it straight away but by Tuesday, we were still with it."
Later on Tuesday afternoon, property manager C-urb informed Alex they would replace the toilet.
However, the mum-of-two said she feels unsafe and has been told she could be in the property she shares with her partner, her 10-year-old son and 19-month daughter, for another five years.
"It's impacting my mental health. I can spend nights crying and it's triggered my PTSD. I feel like no one is really listening. I moved in on August 17 last year," she added.
"It wasn't clean, it wasn't ideal but if you don't accept what they offer, you could miss out. You are put in a tricky situation so I had to accept it. I just really want them to make it more secure, make it feel more like a home."
A spokesperson for C-Urb said: "Tenants’ safety and wellbeing is our priority. On September 9 we carried out a property inspection and found all repairs have been completed. Unfortunately, since then, a toilet blockage has occurred and we will repair this. We will continue to support our tenant to address her concerns.”
Have you got experience living in homeless accommodation or similar? Get in touch katie.williams@reachplc.com