Elderly Newark woman left with a hole in her ceiling after Nottingham Community Housing Association fail to spot a bathroom leak
An elderly woman who was assured by her housing association she did not have a water leak in her loft is now living with a collapsed ceiling.
Nottingham Community Housing Association (NCHA) revamped the bathroom of Pauline Tollerton of Parliament Walk, Newark, at the beginning of September.
Days later, Pauline, 65, noticed water marks appearing on her living room ceiling.
After a tradesman attended the property to assess the water damage, Pauline said he disputed it was a water leak and said the stains would dry out.
Pauline, who has experiences heart failure and has asthma and arthritis. said: "Water began coming through the lightbulb on September 14 and when I asked NCHA to take a look at it, they said they were not available until the 16th.
"When I said how serious it was, a man came round to make a temporary fix but the water continued to drip and sodden the carpet."
Pauline's ceiling eventually caved in on September 21 and, after the property was assessed, a leak was found.
She said the next day NCHA attended the property to make the ceiling safe, but did not fix it permanently.
And Pauline said since then, she has had very little response from the housing association, whom she had left her without heating and water for four days.
"I'm having to leave the heating on permanently because they have left the loft open in the hallway," said Pauline.
"I feel down and it makes me feel that they do not care unless they do not have my rent money.
"All they have said is that there is nothing they can really do.
"My grandson said it is disgusting the way they have left me and my neighbour said the draught from the loft is atrocious.
"It is costing me a fortune with the heating because I am having to keep it on.
"I am also having to borrow money off my neighbour because I cannot afford it.
"The whole thing is really getting me down."
Pauline's daughter, Kirsty Parr, said she was surprised and shocked to hear NCHA had left her mother in damp and cold conditions.
She said: "My mum is generally quite depressed about this situation and I feel the impact on her overall is quite severe.
"She is living at present with a wet through soddened carpet, water dripping from various places in the open roof and damage to her walls and doors."
Responding to the allegations, a NCHA spokesman said it was sorry it had not met Pauline's expectations.
"We can confirm that a number of repairs have been completed to the plumbing in the roof space at Parliament Walk," they said.
"These were completed by our local external contractors and our own in-house gas team.
"The cause of the leak was found to be general wear and tear of the copper pipework.
"Additional repairs have also been made to the boiler to ensure it is working to its full capacity.
"Final repairs to the damaged ceiling are booked in with our contractors for next week, once the area has had time to fully dry out.
"We will be reviewing all repairs with our contractors when they are complete, to ensure our high standards have been met and speak directly to the customer to ensure she is satisfied."
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