Troubles flood in for young family

Three weeks ago Ruth Bills, 25, and children Kimberley, 3, and Hannah, 2, moved downstairs because Swaythling Housing Association plasterers turned their two upstairs rooms into "a building site".

Just as the job neared completion a newly-refitted radiator fell off an upstairs wall and sent water cascading through the ceiling and into their makeshift bedroom in Campbell Road.

It ran through light fittings and pulled down a chunk of ceiling.

Now dust and water has ruined most of their carpets, children's toys, curtains, furniture and even clothes hung up inside closed wardrobes.

Mrs Bills asked the association to give her family temporary hotel accommodation in Eastleigh and instead was offered a room in Fareham which she claims is too far away from her daughter's playschool and her support network of friends and relatives.

They have been given a dehumidifier by the association but it has so far refused to compensate them for the damage, saying that they must make a formal insurance claim.

Mrs Bills said: "We were offered hotel accommodation in Fareham but I don't drive and my daughter goes to playschool in Eastleigh.

"Plus, I would have to leave my family and friends, who are helping me through this.

"My daughter has had to have this week off playschool because she's got a bad nose and throat thanks to the dust and the water."

Now the family will have to wait for decorators to finish with their bedrooms before they can move back upstairs.

Joanna Bound, director of housing and neighbourhoods, said: "We have agreed that they are going to remain in the property. We have repaired the leak and provided a dehumidifier.

"We recommend they have their own contents insurance but if they are not insured then Mrs Bills can make a claim against our insurers.

"We can provide them with emergency hotel accommodation if they want it but they have decided to stay in the property."