Extreme weather conditions saw several weeks’ worth of rainfall in a single night resulting in extensive damage to the homes of 18 tenants.

Thirteen of the properties were so badly damaged that tenants were placed in temporary accommodation while the remaining five properties were damaged to a lesser extent allowing tenants to remain in their homes.

Due to the flooding experienced across Perth and Kinross, alternative accommodation options were limited but Fairfield staff were able to support some tenants into temporary accommodation in a local hotel while others chose to stay with family and friends.

Staff also faced additional challenges as a result of the restrictions in place due to the coronavirus pandemic which had an impact on how quickly the work to repair the flood damage could be completed.

Catherine Gardiner was one of the Fairfield tenants affected by the flooding. She said: “To stand and watch the water flood into my property was a nightmare. After the initial shock of being flooded I contacted Fairfield who were very helpful and found us temporary accommodation at the Mercure hotel in Perth. I found the Fairfield staff to be supportive and helpful and made managing a very difficult situation much easier. I would like to thank all the Fairfield staff for their help and support and the staff at the Mercure hotel for their assistance.”

Damage to the affected properties was in excess of £600,000 and extensive renovation work was required to repair the homes including stripping out ground floor levels, reinstating floors, walls, kitchens and electrics as well as full redecoration.

Bob McDougall, chair of Fairfield Housing Association, added: “It’s great to see all of our tenants back in their own homes following the completion of the work to the properties damaged by the floods. I want to thank them for their patience and understanding during a difficult time. Our staff made sure we kept tenants fully informed throughout the process and ensured they had the appropriate time and support to move back into their homes.

“Fairfield Housing Association is committed to learning lessons from this difficult and challenging situation so we can enhance our disaster recovery and business continuity plans. We will be engaging with tenants and our staff to get their feedback and use that information to improve our services for the future.”