Fife Council ‘holding family to ransom’ over £1,700 guttering row

Fife Council has been accused of holding a family to ransom over a £1,700 bill for work they did not authorise.

Ian Rodger says his mum returned to the home she owns in East Wemyss to discover workers had removed the guttering.

And they want to charge the 61-year-old hundreds of pounds to replace it.

Local authority tradesmen had been working on the council house next door after the rhones were declared a health and safety risk.

And the housing service says the poor condition meant it wasn’t possible to remove them from just one side of the semi-detached building.

But Ian is angry his mum, who he asked us not to name, is now facing a huge bill despite not giving permission for the work.

“They’re holding my mum to ransom,” he said.

‘We’re not going to pay for new gutters’

Ian says the family has been arguing with Fife Council over the issue for several months now.

And in the meantime, the rear of his mum’s home is becoming saturated every time it rains.

But he is adamant they won’t pay.

“They should never have taken them off and now they’re quoting £1,700,” he said.

“The water is just teeming down. It’s ridiculous.

“She’s owned this house for 15 years and we’re not going to pay for new gutters.”

He added: “She just came home from work one day and they were gone.”

“We’re in the middle of a cost of living crisis and the council are forcing her to pay this.”

“They can put them back and we’ll replace them ourselves when mum can afford it.”

Fife Council: ‘Sections of rhones had fallen’

Fife Council housing manager Mhari Mullen confirmed the service was in contact with the family.

And she said Ian’s mum was first contacted about the condition of the rhones in 2019.

“Number 14 is owned by the council and there’s equal responsibility between us and the owner of number 16 for repairs and maintenance of the rhones,” she said.

It wasn’t possible for us to only remove them from our property.”

Mhari Mullen

“By May 2022 sections of the rhones had fallen and we had to remove them as they had become a health and safety risk.

“Due to the poor condition of the rhones, it wasn’t possible for us to only remove them from our property.

“We’ve been in touch with the owner about the council progressing works to renew the rhones.”

She said Ian’s mum had also been advised she could arrange an independent contractor if she preferred.

“In this instance the council would pay the appropriate share of the costs,” she said.