Residents hits out at East Renfrewshire Council over repairs

William Robertson is a homeowner in a top floor flat in Barrhead but East Renfrewshire Council is the factor for the block as it rents out two of the flats below. 

He has hit out at the local authority for failing to properly rectify the issue affecting his kitchen and back bedroom.

At one point he claims water even came out of the sockets in the kitchen after snow had melted on the roof.

William Robertson next to his damaged kitchen units (Image: Herald and Times) The 46-year-old said: “There’s been so much water. 

"Recently there was torrential rain and it was coming down sideways and running down my kitchen walls again.

“I’ve just had a torrid time. I’ve not been able to redecorate because of the state of the roof and the walls.

"I just feel as if no matter what they come out and do, wee repairs/patch up jobs, I’m getting left and it's never ever going to be fixed.

“It's as though, because I’m a homeowner, the council are not really bothered because obviously it’s not their property, but they are still responsible for the roof."

East Renfrewshire Council is the factor for the block (Image: Herald and Times) William moved into the property in November 2021, but a record he has obtained from the council of historical repairs at the property shows the problem has been ongoing since 2010, the same year it is understood the roof was redone.

According to this document, water ingress in the flat has been reported and repairs logged upwards of 20 times over the years.

William in the kitchen of his flat (Image: Supplied) “Despite the numerous ‘repairs’ the ingress continues,” he explained.

“The kitchen was put in not long before I moved in but as soon as this problem gets fixed I’ll probably have to rip out the cupboards. 

“In my back room the ceiling is all marked where the water has come through.”

This photo taken by William shows the problem he is facing (Image: Supplied) William pays a factor fee of around £200 every year to the council plus a quarter of the cost of any repairs in the block.

A £2,500 repair was carried out last September by a company sent out by the council.

This month the local authority sent him an invoice for £754 for the works but he is refusing to pay this as the problem continues to blight his property.

He is now in touch with one of his local councillors about the issue.

This photo taken by William shows the problem he is facing (Image: Supplied) “The company the council sent out to do the £2,500 repair told me the roof was never done right in first place in 2010, so my argument to the factoring team is why are you not going to whoever did the roof in 2010 with all these problems,” added William.

“I don’t think I should be paying the £754 as this has been a historical issue for 15 years and the works done in September have clearly not fixed the water ingress issue.

"It happened again a few weeks ago and since then I’ve had a tile sorted and a mushroom vent added to the roof.

“I’m refusing to pay and they have put the bill on hold while it is under dispute.

“It’s a joke now that I’m being left to put up with this.”

This photo taken by William shows the problem he is facing (Image: Supplied) An East Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: "We're currently investigating this matter and, in line with our complaints procedures, will respond to the homeowner in due course."