Social Housing Tenant Details Drainage Issues and ‘Putrefying Smell’

Jessica McCarnum, a 44-year-old social housing tenant residing in Old Sarum, Salisbury, Wiltshire, states she has personally invested “thousands of pounds” into investigations and repairs to address drainage problems within her rented property. Ms. McCarnum described the situation, stating, “The smell is putrefying, it’s awful.” She further reported that the residence, located on Walter Way, had previously experienced sewage flooding, even with her attempts to manage the situation. Aster, the housing association responsible for managing the property, confirmed its engagement with Ms. McCarnum since her initial concerns were brought forward. Ms. McCarnum received the allocation of this home via the council’s Homes4Wiltshire letting scheme, as it was considered appropriate for her son, who has special needs. After moving into the newly built house in 2012, she noted that problems, such as tiles detaching from the walls, started to emerge relatively soon. According to her, the initial significant flood resulted in “sewage water raining down” through the kitchen ceiling. She added, “I couldn’t get rid of the smell – it’s embarrassing.” She also described another incident: “You can be standing in the shower and, all of a sudden, you’re getting a bath filling up and debris coming over your feet.” Aster stated that its personnel had conducted an inspection of the residence and “addressed some of the minor issues identified.” The housing association expressed regret and affirmed its commitment to continue supporting Ms. McCarnum. A spokesperson for Aster commented, “The home remains safe to live in.” Aster announced that the family would be relocated temporarily to a new build property in the New Year, pending additional work on their current residence. Ms. McCarnum discussed the emotional distress she has experienced and urged other households facing similar issues to voice their concerns. She attributed the problems to the building’s construction, which was undertaken by Persimmon Homes. Persimmon confirmed a visit to the 12-year-old property last year, describing it as a “goodwill gesture to assess original construction”. A spokesperson for Persimmon stated, “Any maintenance works so far have been handled by the housing provider.” The spokesperson added, “While the matter sits with the tenant and housing provider, Persimmon remains available to assist if requested by Aster.”