A 27-year-old autistic man with severe additional support needs says he is being forced to live in a council flat described as a "house of horrors", with mould, crumbling walls, and holes in the bathroom. His grandmother, who wishes to remain anonymous to protect him, has spoken out about the condition of the property in Granton, where he has lived for five years.
Images shared with Edinburgh Live show crumbling walls, mould-infested windowsills, and a bathroom riddled with holes. The grandmother, aged 65, fears for her grandson's mental health and has criticised Edinburgh Council over their treatment of her relative.
Grandmother's plea for rehousing
The grandmother is pleading with the council to move the man to a more suitable property or provide temporary accommodation that could support his needs while remedial works take place, but claims the council has ignored her. Council bosses argue they are in regular contact with the tenant and that the home is "habitable".
The grandmother said: "It's been a nightmare. The house is depressing. It's making his mental health worse. He is forced to sleep on the couch in the living room. It is unacceptable. The council should be ashamed.
"The bedroom window is black with mould. He's washing it off, but to no avail. The hall walls are crumbling. The toilet walls have holes in them and it's like a derelict building with wires hanging out above his shower."
Inspector's earlier findings
The doors have been mouldy since he first moved in. An inspector who viewed the property four months after he moved in said the house was uninhabitable and that he should never have been allowed to move in in the first place. The grandmother added: "If he touches the bedroom window, it falls in. When it's cold, water pours in. He just wants a safe place to live."
The grandson also contends with grotty walls and a mouldy living room fireplace. The grandmother said he does not often allow her into the home over fears about how badly the property has deteriorated. She claims she has been pressuring the council for three years to move him, which nearly happened last year when a wall was falling down, but it was eventually just fixed. She claims they have also inspected windows in the past.
Council response
The grandmother said: "He has severe autism and won't cope with workmen in his flat for 12 days. He panics if anyone is in the house. I have to make him message me every day to make sure he's okay. He is a real worry to me. I need to get him settled. It is a lot to deal with."
A City of Edinburgh Council spokesperson said: "We are sorry that our tenant has been experiencing damp in the property and we remain in ongoing contact to arrange access so that the necessary repairs can be carried out. A housing officer will continue to support him until this is resolved and will discuss housing options."
