Robina and John Brown recently received the keys to the MacFarlane Court home but, after doing some light refurbishment work, discovered the ceilings were filthy, cupboards were hanging off their fittings and there was asbestos in the ceiling.
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ey say the kitchen was also dated and unsuitable and, after a visit from Fife Council, Mrs Brown says she was told because there was no room for her fridge she could try "putting it in the cupboard".
Former Methil docks worker Mr Brown has cancer while his wife struggles with heart issues, brittle bones and diabetes.
She told the Mail: "When we moved in we knew there would be some decoration needing done but we didn't expect anything like this.
"We've been told there's asbestos in the ceiling, there is a wire hanging out of the boiler, I've had to repaint the ceiling five times because of the colour – it's been like walking into a nightmare.
"We did have a look around the house before we moved in but that was really to get an idea of the sizes, we weren't checking the condition of the walls and things like that then."
Fife Council told the Mail the couple had visited the property with council inspectors before deciding to move in and neither had raised any issues.
Scott McDonald, housing officer for repairs support, added that properties were only redecorated in "exceptional circumstances" and grants are available to help cover any decoration costs to the tenant.
Mr McDonald said: "A housing maintenance officer has visited to discuss issues that have arisen in the kitchen since the couple moved in.
"The kitchen doesn't need to be replaced but, while our officer was arranging for some minor repairs, Mr Brown asked about moving some of the cabinets to fit his own kitchen appliances.
"As with many properties of this age, the original Artex on the ceilings contains asbestos, which isn't harmful to anyone unless you cut or disturb it.
"But, because of this, we told Mr Brown he shouldn't make any changes to floor to ceiling kitchen cabinets."
