A woman from Merseyside has expressed serious concerns about a ceiling leak in her flat, stating that the water pouring in “like a power shower” could have endangered her baby. Vicky Hughes has been forced to leave her home due to the situation.
Earlier this month, after returning to her property near Hope Street in Liverpool, Hughes heard water rushing into the room of her four-month-old son. She described the damage as “dangerous,” claiming it has ruined her children’s belongings.
A representative from the Riverside Group, which manages the property, apologized to Hughes and emphasized their commitment to addressing her concerns.
Hughes shared with The Local Democracy Reporting Service that ongoing disputes with the housing association led her to vacate the flat. She explained that the dampness began on the ceiling, despite being promised repairs on four separate occasions.
“The damp started on the ceiling, and I was assured something would be done four times,” she said. “When my son was just two weeks old, water began leaking from the outside wall into the sockets and ruined the carpet in his room.”
Currently, Hughes and her children are staying on her sister’s couch in Aintree. She described the ceiling leak as “dangerous” for her baby. “It could have killed my baby. It was like a power shower coming through, and they keep telling me all sorts,” she added.
Although a piece of plasterboard has been placed over the leak, Hughes insists that more work is needed before it is safe for her family to return. “It went all over his toys and his sister’s. It destroyed everything,” she said.
In response, a spokesperson for Riverside Housing stated, “We want to reassure Ms. Hughes that we remain committed to resolving her concerns about her home.”
On October 17, an emergency visit was made to Hughes’ flat after a report of a bedroom ceiling collapse. Upon inspection, the spokesperson noted that the ceiling was secure, but a water stain was visible. They arranged for the stain to be addressed and replaced with new plasterboard on the same day.
The spokesperson indicated that the leak might be linked to internal gutters connected to the upstairs flat and a follow-up visit was scheduled for further investigation. They added, “We are sorry that Ms. Hughes has continued to experience these issues within her home.”
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