A Perthshire gran has been diagnosed with pneumonia as smashed windows have been letting freezing air into her flat for three weeks.
Bobby-Jo Boyle’s housing association flat in Blairgowrie has been exposed to the elements since her home was targeted by vandals last month.
Several windows were smashed on November 20 but landlord Caledonia Housing has left them with only thin coverings ever since.
Bobby-Jo and her daughter, Marley-Paige Jacobson, are now desperately trying to keep the property warm as parts of Tayside plummeted to lows of -15C this week.
The 50-year-old said her flat is like “living in Siberia” and both she and her 28-year-old daughter have caught pneumonia while waiting for new windows in the living room and one of the bedrooms.
The cold snap is set to continue all week but Caledonia has confirmed the repair will not go ahead until Monday.
Bobby-Jo said: “There are so many bits where the cold air is pushing through the boarded-up windows, it’s a nightmare.
“It feels like we’re living in Siberia at the moment in this flat.
“I appreciated that the windows were boarded up we were told at the start of December they would be getting replaced.
“I don’t keep great health and suffer with Addison’s disease [hormone gland disorder] but since this happened I’ve been diagnosed with pneumonia.
“I’m on my second course of antibiotics and Marley was also diagnosed with it.
“Caledonia Housing is aware of the impact this is having on our health but now we’re being told it could be next week before the windows are fixed.”
‘I’m stressed living like this’
The grandmother-of-one believes the pair should have been provided with alternative accommodation until the window panes are replaced.
She added: “Given the current cold snap I think there was even more of a case that we should have been moved out of here.
“I’m stressed living like this.
“Since the property was damaged we’ve installed CCTV cameras as an additional security measure.
“The heating has never been off as we’ve tried to keep the property warm but it’s a losing battle.
“One of our neighbours has now donated an additional heater but no one should have to live like this.”
Marley-Paige said she has been caring for her mum through her illness, while working from home in the freezing temperatures.
She said: “The current cold snap is obviously making this situation worse.
“I’ve been feeling terrible myself and was also diagnosed with pneumonia.
“The housing association is aware of our concerns but we’ve really had to chase them for updates.”
‘We understand the challenges that this is having on our tenant’
A spokeswoman for Caledonia Housing Association said financial support has been offered to cover extra heating costs.
She said: “Our team was alerted to the broken windows and immediately attended to it through our out of hours service on the 20th of November.
“Our maintenance team have visited the property today (December 13) to inspect the property and will be on site on Monday to replace the broken windows.
“We understand the challenges that this is having on our tenant and have made an offer of additional financial support for heating costs.”
Police Scotland advised two people were scheduled to appear at Perth Sheriff Court last month in connection with the incident.
A spokeswoman said: “Officers arrested a 31-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman in connection with a vandalism and possession of an offensive weapon following an incident in Coralbank Crescent, Blairgowrie on November 20.
“Both were due to appear at Perth Sheriff Court on November 21.”
