Sponsored by
'House from hell' mum's despair
A MOTHER with two young children has slammed Blackpool Coastal Housing after giving her a "home from hell".
Claire Fuller, who has two children, aged seven and three, has been allocated a home on Langdale Road in Mereside.
But one leading residents' campaigner described it as "not fit for a dog to live in".
The house has no carpets, hot water or working heating and both front and back gardens are covered in rubbish.
There is also exposed wiring, piping and an exposed electrical fuse box, which Ms Fuller says will be dangerous to her youngsters, seven-year-old Chelsea-Leigh and Cayden, three.
Missing skirting boards, damp patches on ceilings, unfinished plastering, warped shelving and poorly fitted window hinges are also rife in the property.
And written on the wall of a cupboard under the stairs is a passage which reads: Rules: 1 – Don't wear shoes, 2 – Do as you are told, 3 – Be Tidy and Clean.
Ms Fuller branded the message scary.
She told The Gazette: "It sickens me they expect me to bring my children up in an environment like this."
Bruce Allen, treasurer of Mereside Tenants' and Residents' Association, who is helping with her case, added: "It's disgusting. It shows a fundamental lack of respect and has to be seen to be believed.
"This is a house that they are saying is now ready for occupation. They must be joking."
Ms Fuller's tenancy agreement is due to begin on Monday. But she and her partner Aiden Richardson, 28, are afraid to move her children into a house which could damage their health.
She says the problems were even worse when she went to view the property for the first time – after years of waiting on the housing list.
The 28-year-old, who is currently living at her partner's mother's house, said: "There was dog muck on the floors and drug paraphernalia."
Ian Butterworth, operations manager from Blackpool Coastal Housing, said: "This property has been out of use for a long period and has had extensive work carried out to the roof, which has resulted in cosmetic damage.
"Damp stained areas will be painted and treated this week along with other areas of graffiti left from previous tenants."
FOR THE FULL STORY SEE FRIDAY'S GAZETTE.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Blackpool
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 14 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
