A VULNERABLE seizure-plagued Greenock man claims social housing bosses are trying to force him to fork out for repairs to his home for damage he is not responsible for.
Christopher McKenzie - who says the state of his Lynedoch Street flat is causing him serious mental health problems - is begging with Oak Tree Housing to help him out.
Dad-of-two Mr McKenzie has lived in the same property for almost 15 years and has identified a catalogue of issues with windows, walls and ceilings which have caused dampness to seep in.
He was rushed to hospital earlier this month after suffering several seizures at home.
He was found on the floor by his friends who had managed to get into his house and phone an ambulance.
(Image: George Munro)
Mr McKenzie says Oak Tree has now told him he's responsible for carrying out any repairs and maintenance, despite his ill health and the fact that he didn't cause the damage.
He told the Telegraph: "I have a lot of issues with my mental health and this is bringing me right down.
"They've said that I'm responsible for fixing the house up but I haven't caused the damage.
"I'm not physically or mentally capable of carrying out any of the work myself."
Mr McKenzie told in January how Oak Tree had replaced one half of the window configuration in his living room.
The second part of the window has only just been fitted.
He claims the work carried out has caused damage to the walls in his living room, and said there are still remnants of water damage to the paint at the top of the window frames.
Mr McKenzie said that when the windows were being removed, the wood from the old frames and the concrete on the outside of the building were 'crumbling away in the workman's hands'.
He also raised concerns six montha ago about broken guttering and water pooling on the roof, and now he fears that water will start to come in through the window again.
(Image: George Munro)
At the start of the year, Oak Tree said the structure had been made safe after repairs were carried out.
When the Telegraph visited Mr McKenzie yesterday, he highlighted a large hole in the living room wall which has been patched up with plaster.
The ceiling in the same room was painted over by Oak Tree after a burst pipe led to a leak, which spread out into the hall as well.
Mr McKenzie said as he didn't cause any of the damage, he shouldn't have to fix it.
He added: "Everything has just been hastily patched up and they've said it's up to me to go out and buy paint and paint it all.
"I'm not well enough to do that."
Mr McKenzie added: "I don't go out a lot because of my anxiety.
"I'm out of breath just walking down to the shops and back.
"The state of the house is really affecting me.
"I just want them to fix the house up so I can be comfortable in it."
The Telegraph has asked Oak Tree Housing Association for comment but the housing provider had not replied at time of going to press.
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