A Scots carer has been left ‘homeless and broken’ after Storm Eowyn tore the roof off her building, flooding her entire home.
Patrizia Gosetti and her 11-year-old son Laurence were forced out of their top floor flat this week when it became uninhabitable due to extensive water damage.
Shocking pictures of the property show water pouring though light sockets, soaking walls, holes in the ceiling, and even a wheelie bin filled with water in the living room.
The East Kilbride family have been left with no heating or hot water due to electrical damage as they wait for South Lanarkshire Council to fix the roof.
Lanarkshire Live shared the shocking video which showed 100mph hurricane-force gales ripping the roof off her block in Lyttleton on Friday, January 24, as Storm Eowyn wreaked havoc across the country.
Now, Patrizia, has been left in an impossible situation as the local authority have refused to rehome her while they make repairs to the roof.
Despite it being a council building, South Lanarkshire Council say it is not their responsibility as she is a private let tenant.
Patrizia, 55, told us she has been staying in her mum’s spare room, living out of a plastic bag and sending her son to school in dirty, wet clothes.
Speaking through tears today (Tuesday), she stressed the “dire” situation has left her “broken” and fearing for her mental health.
“This is an emergency. It’s a dire situation and nobody wants to help. I can’t stop crying.
“I haven’t been to the flat this morning, I couldn’t bear it because I know it will be worse with the bad weather. Every single bucket will be overflowing.
“The amount of water that’s coming through the ceiling is unbelievable and its bellowing. The entire ceiling in the boiler and meter cupboard is gone and I’m still expected to live there because I’m not a council tenant.”
Patrizia claims she and her landlord have made repeated calls to the council to fix the roof but were told scaffolders were holding them up in assessing the damage.
Scaffolding has been erected in the last few days but still no repair work has been started.
Patrizia added: “The flat is flooded, it stinks. Buckets are everywhere, big bins and storage containers and even a wheelie bin in the living room. All this to catch all the water coming in every room but one.
“It’s coming in through electric outlets and down the walls. I am emptying the containers continuously. I have tried housing and the homeless department but they will not help because I am a private let, even though it’s a South Lanarkshire Council building.
“My 11-year-old son and I and our cat have no home, they [South Lanarkshire Council] are not interested. There are vacant council flats in the building but they want nothing to do with me. It’s intolerable to stay at the flat any more and a child is involved here.
“I can’t stop crying and am extremely anxious all the time now. No one has asked about my welfare. Without a home in sight and no help from anyone, anywhere, I fear my mental health could go next. I’m a very positive person. But this would break anyone.”
Patrizia claims it is her understanding the roof will only be given an initial repair to take her off the emergency list but that she could face a long wait for a full repair to be completed.
She fears if another big storm hits the roof will not protect her.
“Apparently they’re only going to put a waterproof bit over the top, they’re not even going to repair it so it takes me off the emergency list and puts me back in the queue”, said Patrizia.
“I was told this was the worst damage they’d seen from the storm but I’m not being treated like a priority.
“My landlord has really tried his best and his insurance will cover the damage so I can’t blame him for anything, but insurers won’t even look at this place until they have this waterproof seal on top. And with this weather it’s highly unlikely this is going to happen this week.
“This is a South Lanarkshire Council building. If you look at the rest of the flats on that street, they’re all intact. It’s just my roof that’s went all my ceiling’s have gone, none of the council flats underneath.
“I need the council to fix this roof and I need somewhere to live. Thankfully my mum has given us her spare room but we are living out of a plastic bag and my son is wearing dirty clothes to school, everything’s soaking.”
Reliving the horror moment the roof blew clean off the four-storey building, Patrizia said she had no idea it was filmed and shared on social media.
“I heard a massive crash. I actually thought the water tank on the roof had exploded or came off its hinges and was rolling back and forward. I really thought it was going to come through the ceiling”, she said.
“I was actually insulted someone filmed it as no one came round to help or check we were okay. No one knocked on my door.
“My electricity tripped. I had no TV, no hot water, no gas, no nothing. I tried to tolerate it the best I could then when we woke up the next morning freezing and damp that’s when more water was pouring through the light switches and smoke alarm.
“There’s a main well and it’s spreading. It’s now in my son’s bedroom. I just want a warm roof over my head till the insurance comes through, just four walls with a bit of heat and hot water, that’s all I’m asking for.
“But no one is listening, everyone has shut me down – all because I’m a private tenant.”
South Lanarkshire Council’s Head of Property Services, Craig Jardine, said: “The council had a significant amount of damage caused to our roofs during the recent Storm Eowyn, and work has been ongoing continuously to temporarily ensure the roofs are watertight, prior to a permanent fix.
“As part of that programme for initial work, Lyttleton, in East Kilbride, had these temporary works carried out on Tuesday, February 4. The specification for the permanent repair is now being finalised for the contractor to start full roof replacement as soon as is possible.”
Mr Jardine added: “The private landlord should be offering alternative temporary accommodation in line with their buildings insurance until the repairs are completed and the property is habitable. However, if this is not available, then the resident is welcome to contact the council’s housing team for housing options advice and possible application for homelessness.”
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