Tony Blair, who has been diagnosed pneumonia three times, says his bouts of ill health and worsening asthma have come after he moved into his Glasgow flat, owned by Queens Cross Housing Association, in 2017.
Tony Blair is suing his housing association
An NHS worker is suing his housing association over claims a mould ridden flat has destroyed his health and left him hospitalised with pneumonia.
The shocking case highlights the plight of thousands of Scots forced to live in sub-standard and unsafe accommodation, often while paying sky-high rents.
Tony Blair spent 19 days in hospital after being diagnosed with pneumonia in 2019. He was then hospitalised again for two weeks in 2021, before coming down with pneumonia again last year.
Tony’s bouts of ill health and worsening asthma have come after he moved into his Glasgow flat, owned by Queens Cross Housing Association, in 2017.
His bouts of ill health and worsening asthma have come after he moved into his Glasgow flat, owned by Queens Cross Housing Association, in 2017.
A month after moving in Tony, a catering assistant at Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, first noticed fungal mould caused by dampness on his bedroom and living room walls which began to spread.
The 57-year-old grandad repeatedly raised the issue with his housing association and on at least four occasions workers have attended his home to scrape the wall, plaster and paint, only for damp patches to return days later.
Tony said: “I do worry that if I catch pneumonia again, will it kill me? I worry how long have I got?
“It plays on my mind a lot. I go to bed at night knowing that the dampness in my room is making me ill.
“The first time I became very ill with pneumonia and I spent 19 days on a ward.
“I then had it again and was in hospital in 2021 and the last time was in February 2024 when I was treated at home.
“Each time I’m given antibiotics and steroids. It’s terrifying when you can’t actually breathe.
“Since moving in, I’ve had guys out to scrape off the damp and paint over it only for it to return a few days later.
“I’ve made loads of complaints to the Housing office but they don’t want to know.”
A month after moving in Tony, a catering assistant at Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, first noticed fungal mould caused by dampness on his bedroom and living room walls which began to spread.
Tony, a front line worker during the pandemic, has now launched legal action with Thompsons Solicitors against his Housing Association after a medical expert confirmed that the dampness in his state funded home is worsening his health.
He added: “I’ve been assessed by an expert who has confirmed the damp in my home is making my health worse.”
An expert Respiratory Physician, instructed by the legal firm, carried out an assessment on Tony in November last year.
In the report, seen by the Sunday Mail, the expert concluded: “If the Court accepts that Mr Blair has been exposed to fungal moulds and damp living conditions, it is my opinion that there has been a significant contribution from same to exacerbations of his asthma and marked increase in the severity of this condition and also chest infections, including pneumonia.”
Official data suggesting around 270,000 Scottish hoes suffer from damp and mould.
Claire Campbell leads a team of lawyers at Thompsons dealing with hundreds of mould infestation cases.Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
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Claire Campbell leads a team of lawyers at Thompsons dealing with hundreds of mould infestation cases.
She said: “Everyone deserves to live in a safe, healthy home and this case highlights the serious risk that damp and mould pose, especially to those with underlying respiratory conditions.
“It is shocking that in this day and age tenants such as Mr Blair continue to have their legitimate complaints ignored by their landlords.”
Damp and mould primarily affect the airways and lungs, but they can also affect the eyes and skin. The respiratory effects of damp and mould can cause serious illness and, in the most severe cases, death.
In March, it was announced that Social housing residents in Scotland will be given greater protection against issues of disrepair in their homes such as damp and mould through the introduction of Awaab’s Law.
Awaab’s Law is named after two-year-old Awaab Ishak who died in 2020 after being exposed to mould in his home in Rochdale.
Awaab’s Law is named after two-year-old Awaab Ishak who died in 2020 after being exposed to mould in his home in Rochdale.
Tony says when the damp patches first appeared in two rooms of his home they were around the size of a £2 coin. However the patches have since spread and are ten times bigger.
He used to play football up to five nights a week, but since moving into his flat his asthma, which previously did not require any medication, worsen from Stage 1 to Stage 4.
He has a persistent wheeze and cough and says he now struggles to walk up stairs.
Last year alone he had at least 4-5 courses of both steroids and antibiotics to treat chest infections and breathing issues.
Tony said: “I’ve had asthma since my childhood but it’s never really bothered me.
“Since I moved in here it’s much worse.
“I used to play football four or five times a week and now I struggle to walk up stairs.
“There is damp in my bedroom and I’ve tried sleeping with a mask on but I can’t breathe.
“You shouldn’t have to wear a mask to bed at night.”
Tony’s health has left hi unable to work at times meaning he has lost out on income.
He said: I love working and when I’m well I take on all the extra shifts I can because it’s good money and I want to stay out the house. I actually dread going home.
“If I ever can’t go to work, I feel so guilty if I have to call in sick because I work for the NHS and I know how the service is struggling.
“But sometimes I just can’t go to work. I also lose wages every time I’m forced to call in sick.”
Tony, who is a grandad of two, says he now wants to move.
He said: “I love my flat but I don’t want to live here anymore knowing it is making me ill.
“I can’t actually bring my granddaughters here because I know there is damp. I can’t gamble with my health anymore.”
His bouts of ill health and worsening asthma have come after he moved into his Glasgow flat, owned by Queens Cross Housing Association, in 2017.
Currently landlords in Scotland have to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) – this requires housing to be free from rising or penetrating damp, to have satisfactory ventilation and meet minimum energy efficiency standards.
Exact timescales for landlords to fix these issues could be enforced if the Housing (Scotland) Bill is passed.
The Scottish government has not yet said what these deadlines might be.
A Queens Cross Housing Association spokesman said: “Queens Cross Housing Association is aware of Mr Blair’s concerns relating to dampness and mould in his property and we are currently dealing with this case.”
POLITICIANS have reacted furiously to Tony’s case and demanded Scottish Government action on unsafe housing.
Scottish Labour housing spokesperson Mark Griffin added: “It is shameful that anyone is living in housing conditions that put their health at risk.
“The experiences described by Mr Blair are unacceptable and demonstrate the need to strengthen housing standards in Scotland.”
Scottish Conservative shadow housing secretary Meghan Gallacher MSP added: “Nobody should be forced to live in these conditions and ultimately be repeatedly hospitalised as a result.
“It is crucial all landlords ensure their properties are maintained and acceptable to live in and that they always respond to serious concerns such as fungal mould being raised by tenants.”
The Scottish Housing Regulator said: “The Scottish Government introduced the Scottish Housing Quality Standard in 2004 and this requires social landlords to ensure that their tenants’ homes meet specific standards including being free from damp.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said:“Everyone in Scotland deserves the right to live in a warm, safe and secure home, free from disrepair.
“The 2023 Scottish House Condition Survey showed that 90per cent of homes in Scotland were free from damp, condensation and mould. But we recognise there is more to do.”