Four families face a cold end to the year after Fife Council removed insulation from their homes and left their walls full of holes.
Contractors were sent to replace the old insulation at flats in Methil around three weeks ago.
However, they discovered live wires in the wall cavities so were unable to complete the job.
Yasmin Ednie, who lives in one of the affected flats, said the workmen had been due to return the following Monday but did not turn up.
She said: “We’re currently sitting with holes all around the outside of the houses and we’re so cold.
“I’ve tried putting the heating on but the heat is just going straight outside so it’s a waste of money.”
Fife Council has apologised for the delay, saying the job was more complicated than first thought.
Scaffolding was taken down
Yasmin, 31, lives in a block of four with 15-year-old daughter Summer and son Kai, nine.
While she is in a private let, the other three families are council tenants.
And Fife Council agreed to carry out the cavity wall insulation work and recoup her landlord’s share of the cost.
Yasmin, who works as a domestic in a care home, said the situation was making everyone ill.
“The house is absolutely freezing,” she said.
“I’ve had the cold, which became flu, my son now has the cold and flu and I’ve found dampness in my daughter’s bedroom.
“We had scaffolding up for seven weeks and no work being done.
“It was taken down last week and no-one’s been back.”
Council working to get job completed as soon as possible
Yasmin said she had contacted the council but no-one could tell her how long they would have to wait.
“Obviously they’ll be finishing up for Christmas so there’s not going to be anything done now,” she said.
“It’s shocking they’ve not got back to us and we’re all living in limbo.
“It’s not going to be a very fun Christmas for us.”
Fife Council’s housing manager Peter Nicol said he was aware of the issue in Methil and apologised to residents for the delay in getting the work completed.
He said: “This job became more complicated when live wiring was discovered in the wall cavities.
“We are working to get the job completed as soon as possible.
“And we’re sorry again for any inconvenience in the meantime.”
