A family are left wallowing in filth because waste water repeatedly leaks into their flat – every time neighbours have a bath.
Lesley Sutcliffe, 30, and Lee Hollywood, 48, say they endure a “waterfall” outside their front door and a pond in the living room because their housing association refuse to fix the leaks.
Bathwater from properties upstairs has been causing water to cascade into the two-bed flat for the past two years, claim the pair, who live with Lesley’s mum Colleen.
Circle Housing Association have since been forced to apologise for not doing enough to stop the leaks.
Colleen Sutcliffe, 47, said: “This is isn’t rainwater. It’s someone’s bath water. It’s an absolute nightmare.
“I have her on the phone to me crying some nights.”
The problems have caused hell for the Lee who suffers from stress-induced night terrors and Lesley has fibromyalgia, which causes pain all over her body.
They claim Circle Housing kept making excuses that it couldn’t fix the leak because it was unable to gain access to the flat above – even though it was a property they owned.
After a year long battle for compensation, the couple from Mitcham, south west London, received £1,300 and had the flooring in their lounge and hallway replaced and the apartment redecorated.
But just days after workmen finished the leaks started again and the family say other neighbours have suffered similar problems.
Colleen added: “Neither one of them now wants to go home after work – to a place that should be their solace and a place of calm and relaxation – because they never know what they will find.”
A spokeswoman for Circle Housing, who look after the apartment in Gladstone House, said: “We’re sincerely sorry for the disruption caused to residents at Gladstone House due to an intermittent water leak.
“A joint investigation between our contractor and the estate’s technical officer will be carried out to identify and attempt to rectify the leak.”
