A FRAIL home owner is claiming victory after River Clyde Homes finally vowed to fix damage in his flat caused by water leaking through his ceiling.

Greenock pensioner John Mullan — who suffers from a number of serious health problems — was forced to bring in a professor in architecture to link dampness in his bedroom in Roxburgh Way to the water leaks on the outside of the building.

Now housing association River Clyde Homes — which is responsible for the building — has told him they will carry out work on the balconies, as well as additional repairs on the roof and fix his flat.

Retired joiner John said he had been determined to fight the housing association all the way to get them to own up to the faults.

But the 86-year-old added: “This comes only after they have ruined my life, my flat and my health.

“I have suffered from chest infections and I blame the dampness in my bedroom.

“It is so bad you can feel it in the air and you can smell it.

“I have fought with them for so long about it.

“I had to move out my bedroom and into the living room because it is so bad.

“I also had to spend a lot of money for the architect’s report to get them to listen.”

Last year the Tele reported problems with mushrooms growing in the Roxburgh Way close, after insulation work was carried out on the outside of their building.

At the time River Clyde Homes said that they would carry out maintenance work — but residents were left bemused when someone was sent round to simply pick the mushrooms.

Determined Mr Mullan pointed out spores in his ceiling caused by the fungus and blamed the housing association.

In the end he moved out of his bedroom and in to the living room to escape the damp.

The ordeal came shortly after he had returned home from a two-year stay in hospital because of chest infections.

John instructed lawyers to act on his behalf in a bid to get the housing association to take responsibility and they sent a letter to River Clyde Homes raising concerns about the state of his house and its impact on his failing health.

Architect Professor Tim Sharpe prepared a report which was passed on to RCH and now it has been acted on. 

Hugh Lindsay, a quality assurance manager from River Clyde Homes, said: “We are sorry that this has been an ongoing problem for Mr Mullan but can confirm that we have arranged to have the balconies above his flat re-surfaced.

“We have also taken the decision to carry out additional work to the roof of the property.

“We are confident this will resolve the issue.

“Having visited Mr Mullan in his home we have instructed these works to be carried out as a matter of urgency and once complete we will meet with him again regarding the repairs to his bedroom.”