A Forfar woman locked in a two-year repair battle with Angus Council says she was labelled ‘crazy’ by the contractor who came to carry out the long-awaited work.
Arlene Watson has been trying to get a bedroom window fixed since December 2020.
The 49-year-old is affected by epilepsy, severe anxiety and PTSD.
And the dodgy window has been measured by workmen at least six times.
Her house was also the only one in the street not to have gas central heating, but electric heating has now finally been installed.
But that issue began back in 2019 and Arlene says the stress of the housing situation has made her life a misery.
She was hopeful of a glimmer of light when a worker from Dundee-based QAPM arrived before Christmas.
The firm carries out repairs to Angus Council houses.
However, she was shocked when the employee showed her a mobile phone message with a job list which ended with the words ‘tenant’s crazy’.
Repeated repair promises
Arlene, who is registered disabled, said: “I’ve been promised and promised all the jobs would be carried out and they have never been done.
“I was told the window was ordered in May, but then they arrived to measure it again.
“They’ve already done that about six times.
“The contractor came into the house and took out his phone to show me the job list of what was needing done.
“I read it out aloud and then at the bottom was ‘tenant’s crazy’.
“I just walked out of the room, I was so, so angry and upset reading that.
Arlene added: “I was straight on the phone to the council.
“I came back in and asked him to show me it, but the message was gone.
“My advocacy worker has helped me put a complaint to Angus Council.
“This whole situation has caused me so much stress since it began, and now this.”
Angus Council said it was unable to comment on the matter due to data protection.
QAPM did not respond to a request for comment.
Repairs contract collapsed
The Dundee-based outfit was brought in after the collapse of a small repairs contract with another firm at the beginning of this year.
In January, Airdrie-based MPS pulled out of the multi-million pound repair arrangement just 10 months into a three-year deal.
The company was dealing with repairs to council homes in Montrose, Brechin, Forfar and Kirriemuir.
MPS said the contract was “unsustainable”.
The firm used a break clause in the agreement.
Council chiefs said rising costs and staff shortages in the construction industry were to blame.
And it led to them setting up a direct email address for housing repairs to be reported.
