Single mum slams housing association (From Warrington Guardian)

Single mum slams housing association

A FED-UP single mum has slammed a housing association for jeopardising her family Christmas by stalling on vital house repairs promised since the summer.

Self-employed Clare Moriarty says she couldn't believe it when after months of complaining to North British Housing about blocked toilets and flooded floors all they sent was a man to fix her bathroom tiles!

Clare, 25, from Murdishaw, said: "It's felt like too much to deal with at times. I've wanted everything sorted for so long now. I've rung them six times a week and every time, they admit it's unacceptable but nothing ever gets done.

"They'd made promises before, like when the toilet flooded and I was left without water of electricity for two days, so when they told me to expect someone in the morning for an all-day job I wasn't holding my breath."

A repairman did turn up but not until 2pm, by which time Clare, who had taken the morning off, says she was panicking about whether a whole host of repairs could be done in time for her family arriving from Devon for Christmas.

She said: "I couldn't believe it when a guy rang to say he was the only one coming and was just going to do the bathroom tiles. I was expecting an army of them to do everything all at once.

"I've got two young children and my mum, who is quite ill, is staying so I couldn't afford my toilet blocking again.

"Last time it did I had dirty water coming through the ceiling and light fittings and I was without electricity for two days. All they did was suggest we use a bucket until the plumber arrived."

North British Housing have since apologised to Clare and sent her £50 of Argos vouchers.

A spokesman said: "We accept that this has been an issue with our contractors which is totally unacceptable and we have apologised to Mrs Moriarty."

They also completed all the repairs to Clare's satisfaction in time for Christmas.