Nailsworth housing trust tenant forced to ‘shower in front yard’ after termite infestation

A disability pensioner has been left “humiliated” after being forced to shower in full view of his street for months – all because of an infestation in his home.

Harold Kinross in his Nailsworth housing trust home. Picture: Brenton Edwards

A northern suburbs housing trust tenant says he has been forced to shower in his front yard for months, with his bathroom left riddled by termites and no repairs in sight.

Disability pensioner Harold Kinross, 60, said the termites were first discovered in his Nailsworth home four months ago, but SA Housing was yet to repair the bathroom – instead installing a makeshift shower just steps away from his front door.

Mr Kinross said he had been left humiliated by the situation and was forced to shower before daybreak each day, embarrassed by what his neighbours might think.

“It makes me pretty sad, it makes me angry and stressed,” Mr Kinross told 7NEWS.
“I don’t spend that much (time) in there because I’m worried people might see me.”

A makeshift shower set up in Harold Kinross's front yard. Picture: 7NEWS

Mr Kinross says a termite-infested bathroom is yet to be repaired. Picture: 7NEWS

The 60-year-old has lived in the same Nailsworth property for the past 28 years and said he had been left “disgusted” by the situation.

Human Services Minister Nat Cook said authorities were looking into Mr Kinross’s situation, but it was “difficult to predict” when a replacement property might become available.

“I understand how challenging it’s been for this tenant and for his family,” Ms Cook said.

Last year, an eastern suburbs housing trust tenant said it had taken authorities more than five months to repair a dangerous ceiling collapse at her flat.

The woman, aged in her 30s, told of her frustration at her calls being ignored and delays to repairing the roof, after authorities told her to avoid the dangerous room.

Figures revealed in 2023 showed more than 140,000 maintenance requests are logged a year on average, which were categorised in four priority levels.

Last year, Housing SA recorded almost 13,000 overdue jobs – a reduction on 2022’s 14,346.