Flood defence - "First Choice Homes have fobbed me off"

FLOODED out . . . Neil with the kitchen units he has had to move into the living room

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IT'S every new homeowner's worst nightmare to find that having only recently bought a house it suffers thousands of pounds worth of damage.

That was the situation dad-of-two Neil Kelsall found himself in, just nine months after purchasing the property he had rented for 15 years from First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO).

After buying the house, on Collingwood Way, Coldhurst, for £42,000 using the rent-to-buy scheme things were going swimmingly for Neil. However, after only a few months, Neil noticed water in the hallway. When he lifted the carpet, it was flooded underneath.

Fearing a leak somewhere in the house, Neil, along with builders and other workmen, scoured the house for the source of the water but could not find one.

Around a week later, one of his neighbours told him that his next door neighbour, who rents from FCHO, had a leak from their toilet which they were unable to fix, and so the water carried on to Neil's home.

The leak has since been fixed, however the water and an estimated £15,000-£20,000 damage to Neil's home remains.

Now Neil, who said he effectively lives upstairs with his two children aged 14 and 10, feels FCHO should take responsibility for the damage as it came from a building they own.

But now he feels as though his concerns have been fobbed off with little care shown from the housing association.

Neil said: "As a landlord they have a duty of care, they are supposed to check on the tenants, to see if they are managing and can manage.

"I paid £42,000, which is a good deal for a house but then it doesn't seem like it now. The builders have had a look and and reckon it is between £15,000 to £20,000 worth of damage and I don't see why I should have to foot the bill.

"When I went to FCHO they just fobbed me off and said they can't do anything about it."

A spokeswoman for FCHO said they are aware of the situation and their neighbourhood manager is currently in communication with Neil regarding his complaint.

She said: "The neighbourhood team have been investigating since it was brought to our attention and actions are currently being undertaken.

"Although we do sympathise with Mr Kelsall, we do advise that all tenants and homeowners should take out home contents insurance as we do not insure personal belongings.

"The damage which occurred was not malicious and proven to be accidental.

"Mr Kelsall is currently in communication with the neighbourhood manager in relation to this complaint."