Key Points
- Infestation at Temporary Accommodation: Kate Davenport, a 49-year-old mother, developed a painful scabies skin infestation after moving into temporary council housing in Pollokshaws, Glasgow, on 2 October.
- Severe Physical and Mental Distress: Ms Davenport reported enduring intense physical pain, worsening sores, lesions, and clawing her skin due to parasitic mites burrowing into her body.
- Unusual Staff Advice: Council workers reportedly advised Ms Davenport to place plastic bin bags over her open wounds instead of offering immediate alternative housing.
- Employment Impact: The ongoing illness and mental anguish caused Ms Davenport to miss appointments at the Job Centre, hindering her efforts to rebuild her life following a job loss and marriage breakdown.
- Outrage from Campaigners: Colin McInnes, founder of Homeless Project Scotland, condemned the situation as “harrowing and completely unacceptable,” demanding her immediate relocation to habitable living conditions.
- Official Responses: Glasgow’s Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) announced an environmental spray at the address, clarified that instructing residents to use bin bags on wounds is not standard protocol, and urged medical advice to be followed.
Glasgow (Glasgow Express) October 17, 2026 – Homelessness campaigners have expressed intense outrage after a mother who contracted a severe scabies infestation inside a temporary council property in Glasgow was allegedly instructed by local workers to place plastic bin bags over her open sores.
As reported by Chief Live News Reporter Ruth Suter of the Daily Record, Kate Davenport, aged 49, suffered the painful parasitic skin infestation shortly after being placed in temporary accommodation in the Pollokshaws area of Glasgow on 2 October. Ms Davenport explained that the conditions within the property were unsanitary upon her arrival, citing dirty surfaces, marked walls, and a severely soiled bed. The high turnover of residents in the temporary accommodation complex is believed to have contributed to the rapid spread of the microscopic mites, which burrow beneath the skin surface to lay eggs.
What Conditions Did Kate Davenport Face in Temporary Housing?
Describing the impact on her physical and mental health, Ms Davenport recounted her severe distress as the condition progressively deteriorated day by day. As reported by Ruth Suter of the Daily Record, Ms Davenport stated:
“I’m in tears with this. I can’t stop my mind from thinking that the mites are constantly multiplying all the time and leaving their eggs everywhere. It has left me severely distressed. The infection has got worse hour-by-hour and I have been clawing my skin off.”
Ms Davenport further detailed how the unsanitary state of the building contributed to her condition, stating to the Daily Record:
“There is such a high turnover in this place, with homeless people coming and going, that there is no wonder I have contracted scabies. When I moved in, the flat was filthy. There are marks all over the skirting and walls and the bed itself was disgusting.”
The ongoing health crisis has also severely disrupted Ms Davenport’s personal recovery and attempts to secure employment. Having become homeless earlier in the year following a marriage breakdown and job loss while living in France, she had returned to Scotland to rebuild her life. However, the physical incapacitation caused by the infestation forced her to miss mandatory appointments at the Job Centre.
As reported by Ruth Suter of the Daily Record, Ms Davenport noted:
“Because I’ve been ill and unable to get better, I’ve missed appointments with the Job Centre. All I want to do is put my life back into order but I can’t while these bugs continue to infect me. It’s so dehumanising and humiliating.”
She added regarding her attempts to request a relocation:
“I’ve been told there is no money to temporarily move me to allow me to heal. I feel like these bugs are eating me alive and it’s affecting me mentally. I really have nowhere to turn.”
How Have Homelessness Campaigners and Authorities Responded?
The revelation of Ms Davenport’s living conditions drew direct criticism from advocacy groups working within the housing sector across Scotland. As reported by Ruth Suter of the Daily Record, Colin McInnes, founder of Homeless Project Scotland, strongly condemned the handling of the situation:
“This is a harrowing case and completely unacceptable. Kate is a human being and deserves to be treated like one. She has the right to live in habitable conditions and she should be moved from this accommodation immediately. I do not understand why the council would leave her there.”
Following direct enquiries made by journalists regarding the condition of the flat, local statutory bodies issued official statements outlining remedial actions and clarifying procedure.
As reported by Ruth Suter of the Daily Record, a spokeswoman for Glasgow’s Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) stated:
“We are looking into this and as a precaution have arranged for an environmental spray at the property. We will continue to monitor the situation. Ms Davenport’s allocated worker is in regular contact to provide support and respond to any concerns.”
Addressing the claim that council staff advised the use of refuse sacks over skin lesions, the HSCP spokesperson added:
“This is not normal practice, and we urge the service user to listen to the advice of medical experts.”
In addition, a spokesperson for the Scottish Government highlighted statutory duties, stating as reported by the Daily Record:
“Local authorities are obliged to offer advice and assistance to people who are at risk of or are experiencing homelessness, and temporary accommodation if it is needed.”
This development follows previous investigations into temporary housing accommodation across Glasgow. Recent reports by the Daily Record highlighted similar concerns regarding hygiene standards and maintenance compliance at other temporary facilities, such as the Copland Hotel in Govan and the Queens Park Hotel in Shawlands, where statutory inspections previously required emergency repair notices and deep cleaning interventions.
Background of the Particular Development
The statutory framework governing temporary accommodation in Scotland places a legal duty on local authorities under the Housing (Scotland) Act to provide emergency and temporary housing to individuals classified as unintentionally homeless. Due to sustained pressure on municipal housing budgets, high demand for social housing, and longer waiting lists, local councils frequently rely on temporary flats, hostels, and private leased properties to house vulnerable individuals.
In recent years, Glasgow City Council and the Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership have faced operational challenges regarding the quality and hygiene standards of temporary housing units. High resident turnover rates, mixed-use temporary flat blocks, and strained maintenance schedules have led to recurring complaints from tenant advocacy groups like Homeless Project Scotland regarding pest infestations, structural damp, and inadequate sanitary furnishings. Environmental treatment treatments—such as chemical sprays for scabies mites, bedbugs, or insects—are typically deployed upon official reports, but systemic housing shortages often delay immediate rehousing or temporary transfers for affected residents.
Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Vulnerable Housing Applicants and Local Authorities
This development is likely to increase public and regulatory oversight on how local authorities and health social care partnerships manage hygiene standards within temporary accommodation units across Scotland.
- For Homeless Individuals and Housing Applicants: The public exposure of severe hygienic issues and improper staff advice may lead to heightened anxiety among vulnerable individuals entering emergency housing. However, increased publicity often encourages more residents to formally report unsanitary conditions, demand thorough property inspections prior to move-in dates, and seek support from legal aid advocacy groups.
- For Local Councils and Public Health Bodies: Glasgow City Council and similar local authorities may face stricter enforcement of temporary accommodation quality standards. This case could prompt formal internal reviews into staff training procedures—particularly regarding medical advice given to tenants—and force housing departments to reallocate emergency funds towards pest control, rapid rehousing protocols, and regular maintenance checks to mitigate legal liability and reputational damage.
