An Edinburgh woman for has slammed her local council after claiming she has been on the housing list for more than two decades.
Donna Arnot, 42, said she has been waiting for a suitable house since she was 18-years-old. The mum, from Drum Brae, said she has requested a two bed house for her and her daughter, but has been unable to get a property.
Donna said she wants a home in an area she grew up in as she has access to childcare, but feels let down by the council.
To add to her frustration, Donna claims at least two council homes have been sold off on Ardshiel Avenue and Dochart Drive in the past three years. However, Edinburgh City Council have argued that their policy of selling off properties to increase their housing stock has been a success with the council selling 205 homes and purchasing 405, reports Edinburgh Live.
They added that due to ‘extreme pressures on temporary accommodation’ they have now pulled out of selling homes which were not already under offer so they can be let out as temporary homes.
Donna said: “I have been on the Edindex Council housing list since I was 18 and I’m now 42. I’ve been told there are no two bedroom homes but I know of at least two council homes which have been sold off on Ardshiel Avenue and Dochart Drive with two-bedrooms.
“There must be hundreds if not thousands of people applying for two bed homes while they are being sold off. I’ve asked the council how they can be selling off properties when the right to buy has ended and a housing emergency has been declared?
“People are currently homeless and are being allocated hotel rooms while the council are selling properties. How is this going to solve the housing crisis?
“I am so deflated by this situation and fear I may never be able to get a council house in an area where four generations of my family have lived. I cannot provide a permanent roof over my daughter’s head.
“I’m scared for the future of social housing in Edinburgh because it is a mess just now. Never mind what it will be like for my daughter and the next generation.
“We have been in five properties in six years and I cannot afford private rent. I’m stressed and anxious in case another landlord decides to sell up.
“It is difficult to commit to a job as we do not know where we are going to be and my childcare is in Drum Brae. Edindex system is out of date and needs changing.”
Housing, homelessness and fair work convener Jane Meagher said Edinburgh is experiencing an unprecedented demand for social housing.
“Edinburgh may be a wealthy city on the surface, but we are seeing demand for homes far outstrip supply,” she said. “Since we introduced our acquisitions and disposals policy, we’ve managed to increase the number of much needed Council homes in the city by purchasing 405 homes and disposing of 205.
“By disposing of homes in blocks we’re a minority owner in, we can consolidate our housing stock and carry out common works to improve the quality of homes for our tenants. The funds we raise from these disposals are used to fund the purchase of other homes and any surpluses are reinvested to provide more affordable homes.
“Due to extreme pressures on temporary accommodation, we’ve now withdrawn from the sale of homes which weren’t already under offer, and we’ll be letting them out as temporary homes until we dispose of them in the future.“
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