Fed-up Dumbarton mum withholding rent after three year wait for home repairs

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A fed-up Dumbarton mum says she is withholding her rent after waiting more than three years for repairs on her family home.

Marie Brady moved to her Lomond Drive property with sons Declan, 16, and Logan, 13, in 2021, but outlined worries at the time about repairs the property needed — that she was told couldn’t be completed until she moved in.

However, three years later, she says Caledonia Housing Association still haven’t undertaken the work — leaving the house riddled with damp issues, which make it impossible to even hang pictures on the wall.

And that has prompted drastic action from desperate Marie, who has now gone into rent arrears after refusing to pay until the work is carried out.

She told the Lennox: “I have been at my housing association, Caledonia Housing for all this time to fix my property.

“It got to the point that I have contacted Jackie Baillie, environmental health, the Scottish Housing Ombudsman and now I’ve withheld my rent.

“I am still not further forward with my repairs than I was when I first moved in.

“I have had minimal repairs done and I am being hounded about my rent.

“They’re now taking the money back from my universal credit .

“I have been made to live in conditions that are not acceptable and still expected to pay my rent and it has taken it toll.

“I have years and years of proof regarding dampness, medical records and letters from politicians, along with complaints and lists of things still to be done. I either get ignored or my repairs get cancelled.

“All I want is to make my house a home.”

A spokeswoman for Caledonia Housing Association said: “Caledonia is committed to providing quality services that meet the individual needs of all our tenants. We recognise that, in this instance, we have not met the standards we would hope to achieve for Ms Brady.

“Our area team are working with our contractor to ensure that the repairs are dealt with as soon as possible.”

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