Tuath Housing tenants describe severe damp, electrical hazards and health risks despite repeated complaints
Dublin — Two social housing tenants in south Dublin have been living with severe water leaks, mould, mushrooms growing from walls and electrical hazards for over a year, despite repeated complaints to their housing provider Tuath Housing.
Róisín, who lives with her two sons aged 4 and 13, has reported a hole in her ceiling, warped floorboards, slugs and mushrooms appearing on walls as a result of the leak. She said both she and her 4-year-old son have slipped and fallen in the water, injuring themselves.
“I am very stressed, nearly in tears to be honest,” Róisín told The Journal. “I have mushrooms growing out of the walls, slugs, and my kids inhaling that. My son slipped and fell in February and I fell two weeks ago.”
The issue has been ongoing for almost two years, with Róisín saying that despite repeated complaints to Tuath Housing, nothing of substance has been done to fix the problem. “Whatever they have tried to do, it has done nothing… The walls are peeling, the floors are buckling,” she said.
Róisín’s neighbor, 82-year-old Elaine, who lives alone, has also reported severe damp, water ingress and black mould ongoing for at least six months. “The whole place is just a mess, it’s depressing looking at it,” she told The Journal. “And there’s nothing being done. It’s very frustrating.”
Elaine suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and says the issue is negatively affecting her respiratory health.
In an email to Tuath Housing dated 8 October, Elaine’s daughter complained about the ongoing problems, stating: “The ceiling has sustained significant damage, with plaster coming away and water continuing to seep through from the upstairs apartment. This is causing ongoing water ingress and further damage to the internal structure of the property.”
Most concerning, she wrote, is “visible mould and damp at the back of the television unit, where multiple electrical cables and sockets are located. This presents an immediate and serious fire and safety hazard, particularly for an elderly tenant with limited mobility.”
The letter called on Tuath to fix the issue, remove all mould, inspect the house to ensure safety, and pause any planned rent increases until the problem is solved. “The current conditions are unacceptable, unsafe, and in breach of your obligations as a housing provider,” it stated.
Despite both tenants raising issues repeatedly with Tuath and the management company, they say nothing meaningful has been done. In an email sent by Róisín on 21 February seen by The Journal, she wrote: “I have rang over 10 times regarding the leak in the ceiling which is getting worse and my child slipped and banged his head this morning in the puddle. I have been told by staff that they would get back to me but it has been months trying to sort this issue and no one has returned my call, it is dangerous and damaging property.”
In a November 15 email, Róisín wrote: “I slipped and fell and smacked my head off the door handle at 7am this morning opening the door to go out and check mail. I have been in agony since, currently still have an ice pack on my head. After two years can anyone try to help me?”
Most recently, Róisín said her house was given an “industrial sized” dehumidifier to attempt to dry up the water, which posed significant inconvenience. It dried the area temporarily, but as the leak itself wasn’t fixed, the damp and water soon returned.
Elaine’s daughter said she has been in contact with Tuath “every second or third day” about the issue. “It’s constant. I just have to say to them I will have to contact a solicitor. I have sent them numerous emails saying it was urgent and there is no urgency on their side.”
In a statement to The Journal, a Tuath Housing spokesperson said: “Tuath is aware of the water ingress issues raised and has been working closely with the Owners Management Company to remedy these issues. This work is ongoing. Our staff have visited the homes in question and are engaging with the residents regarding a number of options for support in the immediate term as we work to get these issues fully resolved. Our focus is our residents’ safety and wellbeing.”
The housing body said following initial assessments, they identified the issue as originating from a property Tuath does not manage, and are continuing to pursue the managing agent to rectify the water ingress. “We are committed to restoring the property to its original condition once the contractors, instructed by the managing agent, have fully resolved the leak.”
Róisín said she wished Tuath had “listened from the beginning” and expressed frustration that her concerns weren’t dealt with sooner. “This wouldn’t have been going on so long if they had dealt with it… It needs to be taken seriously. It’s a serious health and fire hazard.”
Tuath is an Approved Housing Body providing social housing accommodation to close to 40,000 tenants across Ireland. The properties in question are managed and maintained by a separate management company.