Why hasn't landlord fixed my flat, asks pregnant single mother

11:51am Thursday 3rd July 2008

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By Sally Jones »

A SINGLE mother who is pregnant with her second child has criticised her landlord for failing to carry out repairs to her home, despite being told to do so by council officials.

Rachel Snell said Worcester City Council sent a letter to landlord Geoff Bott in December last year, telling him he must make improvements to the property in Lowesmoor, Worcester, but nothing has been done.

However, Mr Bott said he was in the process of getting quotes for the work, which would be carried out imminently, and added that the flat was in “perfect condition” when Miss Snell moved in.

Miss Snell, aged 19, said: “I moved in here two years ago when I was due to start college. It was the only place I could find. It wasn’t great but it has slowly deteriorated and now I have one daughter and another baby on the way, I need these repairs carried out.”

Miss Snell listed a catalogue of problems at the property, including mould on the ceilings and walls, a broken front door, leaks in the ceiling and a hole in the bathroom floor.

“My daughter, Courtney is two years old and she keeps getting chest infections because of the mould and damp,” she said.

“I complained to the council and they sent out a letter saying repairs must be carried out, but nothing was done, and now they don’t seem interested in doing anything about it.”

Miss Snell receives housing and council tax benefits and said she was told by the city council that once her second baby is born in September it will then look to find her alternative accommodation. However, this could take up to 18 months.

Mr Bott said Miss Snell’s claims were unfair. “The flat was in perfect condition when she moved in,” he said. “Now the doors have been ripped off. I accept that I need to repair the black on the ceiling, which was caused by a leak from the flat above, and I am doing so.”

Mr Bott said he had arranged for a builder to visit the flat, but he was left waiting for three hours because Miss Snell was out.

He said: “I am doing what I can. But when people don’t turn up when you have arranged for people to come round what more can I do?”

However, Miss Snell refuted his version of events.

Nina Warrington, strategic housing services manager at Worcester City Council, confirmed a letter had been sent to Mr Bott, but said as the problems at the flat were deemed category two, not one – which is high priority – it could not take legal action.

“We only have certain powers under the housing health and safety rating system,” she said. She advised Miss Snell to take further advice either from the Citizen’s Advice Bureau or Worcester Housing and Benefits Advice Centre.