Warrington Mum in ongoing battle with Your Housing to have house fixed

Carol McCaig has lived in and rented the property on Harcourt Close in Birchwood for more than 15 years and has spoke of the immense stress the ongoing problem has caused to her and her family.

The mum-of-two explained how problems first began occurring when she moved into the house all those years ago, as she faced issues with damp and mould in the upstairs bedrooms.

However, this was the least of her concerns, as three years ago she then noticed a hole appear in her roof.

The house is located on Harcourt Close in Birchwood (Image: Supplied) “The hole has gradually gotten bigger and as the years have gone by, water has started to come through the ceiling,” she said.

“The ceiling in the bedroom started to cave in. It is years of neglect that has caused this.”

Carol, 42, notified Your Housing Group of the opening in her roof and ceiling back in the summer of 2022.

Having concern over the welfare of her children as well as the safety of the house, she asked for the issue to be fixed.

“They sent someone out to fix the roof and scaffolding was put up.

“They said that they had fixed it but that hadn’t, they had only done a patch work job and so the water is still coming through.”

“It’s now travelling down into the wall of my bedroom,” she added.

Along with the roof issue, Carol also confessed that she constantly has to wipe black mould off the windows in the bedrooms that keeps growing back.

Another concern she has raised with the housing company.

Damp has riddled the home creating floods, leaks and a hole in the roof (Image: Supplied) “I have had my little boys both stay in that back bedroom. My boy is 16 now but when he was a baby he ended up with pneumonia and there was mould growing in that room back then.

“Both of my boys have been in hospital due to damp and mould after having both stayed in that back bedroom.

“If I did not clean it, the windows would be green and black.”

The full-time mum recalled the various inspections that have taken place over the years, with Your Housing sending different work men out to assess the roof issue but having yet to fix the problem.

“Four people have come out to have a look, they come and explain what needs to be done and then go away and do not return to fix it.

“Sometimes they also send out the wrong person who tells me they aren’t qualified to carry out the work.”

Carol made a claim relating to the problem through a solicitor and was offered a single £720 payment by Your Housing which she declined.

Expressing how the continuous ordeal has impacted her life, she continued: “I have been suffering in this house for years.

“Considering the amount of rent I have paid, I have never missed a rent payment, I am a valued tenant.

“It has caused me immense stress and it’s put me in a depressed state. It makes me not love my home.

 “Why don’t they want to fix the house?”

Reaching out to Your Housing Group for a comment on the situation, chief property officer Ian Thomson stated that work is set to be carried out to resolve the issue in a ‘timely manner’.

He said: “At Your Housing Group our primary concern is for the wellbeing of our residents.

“We are deeply sorry that Ms Craig is facing these unfortunate circumstances in her property.

“Our maintenance teams have already visited the property on several occasions, and we have further visits already planned to ensure that all necessary work is carried out and that these issues are resolved in a timely manner.”

However after battling for three years already to have the problem resolved, Carol has expressed her concerns at facing another winter with a hole in her roof and leaking water running through her walls.