A mother and her three-year-old son have been forced to leave their council flat in Glasgow because of severe damp and mould that has caused the ceiling to fall in. Dana, 32, and her son had been living in the ground-floor property on Cheapside Street for nine months after securing it from Glasgow West Housing Association.
Damp and Mould Issues
The flat has suffered from worsening damp and mould, exacerbated by leaking pipes, lack of ventilation, and a rat infestation. Dana says her son has become sick and has been coughing more, requiring a preventative inhaler and multiple hospital visits. She told Glasgow Live: "My son has been coughing more and more. I’ve mentioned it to housing several times. He’s on a brown preventative inhaler, has had episodes of bronchitis, and has been in hospital four times."
The dampness is so widespread that part of the bathroom ceiling has collapsed. Dana, who asked that only her first name be used, said: "I found huge mould spores underneath his bed so I had to get rid of it, but it’s everywhere now. The mould is spreading across the kitchen, and that’s also where we have the biggest problem with rats. We’ve been living at my mum's for the last few days, and I’m actively trying to stay out of the flat as much as possible."
Impact on Health and Studies
Dana, originally from Estonia, added: "I’ve noticed a burning feeling in my chest. We can’t live here - I can’t bathe my son as the concrete in the roof is literally falling off." She is pursuing a second master's degree in data engineering at Edinburgh Napier University but has had to request an extension due to the housing problems.
During a recent inspection, a housing association representative confirmed a vermin infestation and noted that rats had chewed a hole in a vent. They suggested the wall and part of the floor might need to be replaced due to damp. Dana claims her neighbour has also found rats in his living room. A specialist inspection of Dana's property is scheduled for August 24.
Housing Association Response and New Regulations
Glasgow West Housing Association said they are actively engaging with the tenant. A spokesperson said: "We have robust procedures in place for responding to reports of damp and mould and have instructed a specialist survey of the property. We will review the outcome once received. We will continue to support the tenant and work with relevant agencies where appropriate. While responsibility for pest control rests with the local authority, we will assist in progressing any housing-related actions identified."
Scotland will introduce new regulations later this year to better protect tenants from damp and mould. The Investigation and Commencement of Repair (Scotland) Regulations 2026 will take effect in October, imposing new duties on landlords to investigate reports and start repairs within a set timescale. These are the first regulations implementing Awaab’s Law, named after two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who died in 2020 from a respiratory condition caused by mould in his family's housing association flat in England.
