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CAROL-ANNE GEMMIL, WHO LIVES AT HER COUNCIL HOME WITH HER TWO TEENAGE KIDS AND PARTNER, WAS ASSURED THE HOUSE WAS SAFE FOLLOWING FLOODING THROUGHOUT THE PROPERTY. 04:30, 22 May 2025 A Scots
mum has slammed her local council after she was told her flooded home was safe just hours before her hallway ceiling collapsed. Carol-Anne Gemmil, who lives at her council home in Millgate,
Winchburgh, with her two teenage kids and partner, was assured the home was safe after a leak in the attic led to flooding throughout the property on Sunday May 18, reports Edinburgh Live.
The 40-year-old argued the home was not fit for living in and explained to the council her partner suffers from COPD which could be adversely impacted by the damp. The local authority are
understood to have sent workers with a mop and bucket as well as a dehumidifier to deal with the issue. Despite their assurances the home was safe and had been repaired, Carol-Anne was
horrified to receive a phone call from her 17-year-old son who returned from work to find the hallway ceiling had collapsed. The furious mum said it is lucky no one was walking under the
ceiling at the time it fell away. The ordeal comes after two years of disruption which saw the family decanted from their Millgate home to Uphall due to a severe issue with damp and mould.
Carol-Anne is now fighting to be moved to a new home in Winchburgh and she believes she is entitled to compensation. Article continues below Carol-Anne said: “There easily could have been
someone walking under it and they could have been seriously hurt. “The way we have been treated is so disrespectful, we have been totally lied to. They do not care about my family, they have
no emotion and no one has apologised, all they have said is they will look to fix it. “They assured me after the leak they had cleaned it all up and the house was safe but if the walls and
ceilings were dry, then it would not have caved in. They showed up with a mop and dehumidifier as if that would fix the damp. “I told them it was not good enough and we wanted a permanent
home but they only offered us a single night in a hotel which was not possible as my daughter had her exams the next day. Luckily she was able to stay with a friend locally and my son with
his partner but I had to spend the night in the car. "It is beyond belief the council said the house was safe and repaired.” The 40-year-old customer assistant described going through
the wringer with her council home since the winter of 2022. Carol-Anne described enduring a two year battle to have her Millgate home relieved of damp and mould. “I started realising really
bad damp and mould down my walls in November 2022,” she said: “A couple of days before Christmas we were all crying our eyes out because of it. We had icicles forming on the roof and I was
spending a fortune on energy everyday. “On January 3, 2023, a lovely housing officer came out and agreed it was terrible and he arranged for me to get decanted but the only available
property was in Uphall.” Carol-Anne claimed she reluctantly took the move because the council had assured her they would cover the costs of her kids getting to school. But she alleged the
money did not come up front, meaning she had to cover the expenses out of her own pocket. Not only this but Carol-Anne claimed the damaged items from her Millgate home were never fully
reimbursed and she believes the council owe her thousands in compensation for both the damaged goods and mental anguish inflicted on her family. She said her daughter lost up to 100 days at
school due to the disruption of being moved from her home for two years and having to commute from Uphall to her high school. A spokesperson for West Lothian Council said: "The council
arranged to decant the tenant and family with extensive works required to be undertaken in the property. Due to shared costs, legal implications with a neighbouring property and the scope of
the works required at the property, there was an extended period of time prior to arranging for the family to return home. “The delay in completing the repairs was primarily due to the need
for a full roof replacement, which involved shared costs with the private owner in the block. "During the time the tenants were decanted the following works were also undertaken;
re-plastering of areas within the property, a full re-decoration, a heating upgrade, a full lighting and electrical renewal and assistance with new flooring throughout. “The council arranged
to compensate the family for school travel costs when brought to its attention. A payment was agreed and made to cover the costs of days school was attended. “Unfortunately having recently
moved back to the home there has been a leak within the loft space which has resulted in water ingress. Officers attended out of hours and undertook emergency repairs. The family were
offered emergency accommodation; however, this offer was rejected. "On Monday of this week officers re-attended the property and completed all repairs. Officers noted that the areas
which had been impacted by the water leak had dried out. Ongoing monitoring of the drying out process was put in place and any subsequent repairs would be undertaken. The tenant continued to
be supported by housing officers. "It is very much regrettable that further damage has occurred within the property and our sympathies are with the tenant. We can confirm that a
further inspection of the property has taken place today and appropriate action will be taken to allow repairs to be carried out as soon as possible. Article continues below "Housing
Officers have arranged a temporary decant property for the tenant and their family and they will continue to be supported until this process is resolved.” JOIN THE DAILY RECORD WHATSAPP
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