Greenock man calls River Clyde Homes 150 times for repairs

Pensioner Robert Cassidy, 74, has branded staff at Inverclyde's largest housing provider 'liars' after what he has called 'repeated false promises' and says the situation is now having a huge impact on his health.

Mr Cassidy - who has lived in Sutherland Road for 30 years - has been continually told by River Clyde Homes that a contractor would be sent out to remove cavity insulation that has caused all of the problems.

But the work has never been carried out.

In a respone to the Tele RCH has now promised that the work will be completed in eight weeks.

Mr Cassidy - who has suffered a stroke - says he has had to endure 'endless frustrating calls' to the housing association's customer services department.

Councillor Tommy McVey and Robert Cassidy (Image: George Munro)

He told the Tele: "I have been at them about this for three years since they first put the cavity wall insulation in and the dampness started to appear, first at the front door and then all over the house.

"I have kept all the records of my phone calls and my emails, I have honestly called them about 150 times. No-one ever gets back to me and when they do it is lies.

"They tell me someone is coming out and they never do."

Mr Cassidy - who has been given a humidifier by RCH - added: "It is starting to really affect me, every day it is the same. I don't keep well, I had a stroke a few years ago. I also have a blood disorder and need to go to the hospital for platelets.

"I am also living in a house with dampness and breathing it in."

Councillor Tommy McVey branded River Clyde Homes' treatment of Mr Cassidy 'appalling' and says they are never held to account for their failings.

Councillor McVey said: "Giving Mr Cassidy humidifiers is like giving you another bucket to fix a hole in your roof.

"Firstly, I have to say that it is appalling the way that RCH have treated Mr Cassidy.

"We have been told, time and time again by RCH / Homefix senior managers that the wet insulation, which is causing the dampness in his home, would be removed - and it’s still there."

The Tele highlighted Mr Cassidy's plight last December, and at that time RCH said that all necessary work would be done and then they would carry out repairs to the damage in the house.

Mr Cassidy said: "There was nothing wrong with this house until the cavity wall insulation went in. They agreed it needed to come out. But it has never happened.

"They painted over some of the dampness and gave me a humidifier.

"It took long enough to admit it was the insulation and now it is taking them even longer to get it out."

Councillor McVey said: "We are now wondering whether the information we were given, on several occasions, was factually correct or a fabrication.

"It’s disgraceful, and once again no-one takes responsibility. No-one is held to account for these failings."

Councillor McVey is now calling for the chair of River Clyde Homes board, John Quinn, and the rest of the board to intervene.

He added: "It’s time that John Quinn, as chair of the RCH board, and the other board members stepped up to the plate and got these long term repairs done, instead of being anonymous and hiding in the background.

"I have a case which has been ongoing for 12 years. In January 2023 I was told, in writing, that the work would be done by the end of that summer. Guess what, we are now in summer 2024 and the repair is still not done.

"It would laughable if it wasn’t such a serious issue."

A River Clyde Homes spokesperson said: “We met with Mr Cassidy yesterday to discuss the process of ongoing repairs to his property. We understand his frustration about the delays over the past three years, which are due to difficulties obtaining a specialist contractor necessary to complete the works. 

"We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience. Mr assidy has been provided with a dedicated point of contact for regular updates, and we anticipate the cavity fill to be completed within the next eight weeks.”