Social housing: 'I shower at the gym because my bathroom isn't fit for purpose'

Key Points

Ema-Sayuru Nyx, born with uneven legs and twisted ankles, cannot safely access her mouldy, unusable bathroom.
She must take a bus an hour away to shower at a gym because she can’t get into her own bath
Inadequate adaptations, like slippery handrails, have left her home unsafe and isolating
New research shows unsuitable social housing costs taxpayers nearly £1,000 per person, while proper housing benefits the economy over £10,000.
Shelter Scotland says investing in social housing transforms lives, but government targets are still being missed

The final steps at Ema-Sayuru Nyx’s front door are often the hardest part of getting home.

Born with uneven legs and twisted ankles, she faces difficulties entering her supposedly accessible property.

She can’t use her bathroom, which is covered in mould and has mushrooms growing from the ceiling.

But that isn’t the only problem she encounters every day.

“They did eventually put handrails in, but they’re very slippy,” Ema told STV News.

“Five years ago, they gave me a handrail as I couldn’t get out of the shower without grabbing the radiator.

Ema's bathroom isn't fit for purpose. — Ema’s bathroom isn’t fit for purpose. STV News

“It was always difficult but my condition has got a lot worse and I’ve not been able to use it for over a year now.

“I need to get a bus to go to my gym an hour away to have a shower there.

“I can’t actually lift my leg to get over the bath to get into the shower and I certainly can’t be balancing on one leg as I pull myself over. I already struggle with getting around Edinburgh as it is – that shoudn’t be in your own home.”

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The City of Edinburgh Council said it is working to find a suitable home for Ema.

Lezley Marion Cameron, the council’s housing, homelessness and fair work convener, said: “The council is aware of and sympathetic to Mis Nyx’s current circumstances and long-term housing issues.

“Council officers are working with Ms Nyx to secure a suitable permanent property as swiftly as practically possible.”

New research showing the monetary value of providing adequate social housing has been calculated.

It costs the taxpayer just under £1,000 (£990.44) for each person living in an unsuitable social home.

But for someone in the right social home, they generate around £10,649 towards the wider economy and their community.

It costs the taxpayer just under £1,000 (£990.44) for each person living in an unsuitable social home.
STV News

New social tenancies can generate a value of £11,639, according to a three-year study commissioned by Shelter Scotland.

The study, led by the Housing Associations’ Charitable Trust (HACT), worked with tenants and social housing providers over three years to measure how securing a social tenancy has transformed households’ health, wellbeing, and life circumstances, such as economic and employment status.

Alison Watson, director of Shelter Scotland, said: “What we are seeing is savings of almost £1,000 to the public purse within six months of a household moving into a social home.

“That is a huge benefit and highlights the importance of investing in social housing – that is an investment in our communities and an investment in the nation.”

‘I feel much more human now’

One person who is now in the right social home is Innocent Jakisa.

He spent 15 years in a high-rise flat, with a dodgy lift that was far from wheelchair-friendly.

But he is now much more comfortable in his new flat in Glasgow.

He told STV News: “I feel that I’m much more human now. I can go in and out of my flat at will and at ease, without any fear or anxiety of being locked out or locked in, so this feeling of social isolation is no longer an issue.

“My children bought me an electric wheelchair, so I can just wizz in and wizz out.”

The Scottish Government says it has committed to building more social housing.

A spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government recognises the value of social and affordable housing – that is why we have invested consistently in affordable homes in Scotland. We are investing £768m this year including £40m targeted at acquisitions to help deliver affordable homes more quickly.

“We’ve helped deliver more than 139,000 homes since 2007, with 99,000 of those for social rent, that’s 47% more per head than England and 73% more per head than Wales.”