Four-Year Water Leak Causes ‘Hell’ for Grandmother

Wendy Hinton, a 72-year-old grandmother, has stated that a four-year-long water leak, originating from the flat above hers, has rendered her life “hell.” Despite her affection for her flat in Churchdown, Gloucester, the persistent leak has led to mould growth, sagging ceilings, and has prevented her grandchildren from visiting. Mrs. Hinton recounted an incident where water “came straight down” on her while in bed, prompting her to wear bin bags for protection. She described her situation by saying: “Life’s very hard because I never know what I’m going to wake up to.” Bromford Housing, the building’s owner, indicated that independent investigations are forthcoming, following its previous action to “resolved” an issue in the flat situated above Mrs. Hinton’s. Mrs. Hinton holds the leasehold for her property, while the housing association rents out the other units within the building. Mrs. Hinton elaborated on the extent of the damage, stating: “I’ve had this problem of water coming through walls, down windows, ceilings, the whole lot.” She added that her grandchildren are unable to visit because “it’s not a safe place to be.” Describing a specific incident, she recalled: “One night, I was in bed and the water just came straight down. I’ve ended up with black bags over me to keep dry.” She concluded, lamenting: “This was a family home and everything’s been taken away from me.” According to Mrs. Hinton, a plumber informed her family that the issue originates from the upstairs flat. Electricians, upon inspecting the damp wiring, identified 22 faults attributed to the water damage. Due to safety concerns raised by her family, Mrs. Hinton is currently residing in a caravan. Laura, Mrs. Hinton’s daughter, reported that her mother cannot cook or shower in her flat. Laura expressed her concerns, stating: “I’ve got six children and it’s no place for them to be.” She continued: “It should be something we can come up to and enjoy, and we can’t. Christmases haven’t been great either.” Laura concluded by saying: “It’s not nice to see my mum be treated like this, it’s really unfair.” Bromford Housing confirmed that its representatives have met with Mrs. Hinton multiple times. The organization stated that it addressed an issue in the flat above last September, which had impacted Mrs. Hinton’s bathroom. While the housing association reported finding no current evidence of leaks or structural problems, it committed to resolving any issues identified during the upcoming independent investigations.