Maureen Noonan faces challenges moving back into her council house due to damp conditions after a fire next door
Dunfermline: Maureen Noonan, 62, had to leave her home on St Andrews Street after a fire in her neighbor’s house last December. She ended up in a temporary flat for nearly a year.
Now, she’s been told her house is ready, but when she got the keys, she found the walls were damp. It’s been a long wait, and she’s understandably frustrated.
Maureen shared her experience, saying, “I’ve been out of my house for 11 months through no fault of my own.” She had to crash at a friend’s place for a while before moving into a flat.
Initially, she was told she’d be back in six weeks, but that turned into almost a year. When she finally got back, there was no gas, water, or TV aerial, which was a bit of a letdown.
Although those issues were sorted out, the dampness remained. Maureen noticed that her loft items were ruined because the roof wasn’t sealed properly after the fire. Plus, the whole place smelled of chemicals.
When she brought this up with the council, they insisted the house was livable and just needed some ventilation and heating. But Maureen wasn’t convinced, especially since she has asthma and COPD.
She expressed her concerns, saying, “If it was sealed, why were my walls all soaking?” It’s been a tough time for her, and she feels stressed and unwell from the whole situation.
Maureen is also worried that if she redecorates, the damp might return, leading to more repairs. Fife Council claims the property is safe and will address any plasterwork issues once it’s heated.
Taylor McQuilan from Fife Council reassured her, saying they want her back home soon and will help with energy costs while she gets the place sorted.
