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Mum and daughter’s leak misery (From York Press)
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Mum and daughter’s leak misery
8:49am Friday 14th September 2012 in News
By Richard Catton, richard.catton@thepress.co.uk
Julianne Phillipson, who is expecting her second child this month, and her daughter Faith, aged 11, at their water-damaged home in Vincent Way Foxwood. Faith, who has just started secondary school, is having to stay with a friend
AN expectant York mother claims her daughter’s bedroom ceiling collapsed after council contractors bungled a plumbing job in her loft.
Julianne Phillipson, who is expecting her second child this month, said her 11-year-old daughter, Faith, has been forced to sleep at the home of a friend after a leak led to the ceiling collapsing in her bedroom.
Mrs Phillipson also said contractors told her she would have to claim for the repairs through her home insurance.
City of York Council has said the contractor will now put right the damage and compensate Mrs Phillipson.
Mrs Phillipson, 32, said the work was done as part of improvements by the council to properties in Vincent Way in Foxwood. She said the work began at her home on August 20.
“We noticed a small leak a few days ago near the back door,” she said.
“On Tuesday, we saw the water coming down into the kitchen then we went upstairs and saw water pouring out of a light fitting.”
The leak destroyed the plaster on the ceiling of Grace’s bedroom, leaving a hole through to the loft and ruining a mattress, according to Mrs Phillipson.
“She’s 11 years old and has just started her new school,” her mum said. “She’s having to stay at her friend’s house.
“The contractors came round and said we had to claim for it on our own home insurance.”
Sharon Brookes, head of building services at the council, said: “High-quality work and customer care are extremely important to us, so we are disappointed to hear that a problem has occurred at a property where we have recently carried out work.
“We have discussed this particular issue with the contractor, who will put right any damage caused as a result of the work and fully compensate the customer.”
Comments(13)
Pete the Brickie
says...
9:48am Fri 14 Sep 12
The contractors came round and said we had to claim for it on our own home insurance.”
Sharon Brookes, head of building services at the council, said: “High-quality work and customer care are extremely important to us, so we are disappointed to hear that a problem has occurred at a property where we have recently carried out work.
“We have discussed this particular issue with the contractor, who will put right any damage caused as a result of the work and fully compensate the customer.”
It's quite possible that this leak had absolutely nothing to do with the work carried out by the unnamed subcontractor. Hence when they inspected it they advised the tennant to claim off her household insurance and the Manager uses the phrase "any damage caused as a result of the work". How many of us have taken a car for a service only for it to break down a week later?
Von_Dutch
says...
10:19am Fri 14 Sep 12
(Cue Press photographer: "Ms Phillipson, can you put your arm round your daughter and both look as glum as possible please for me... yes that's the one...")
Elle
says...
11:42am Fri 14 Sep 12
MarkyMarkMark
says...
12:26pm Fri 14 Sep 12
yorkie25
says...
1:13pm Fri 14 Sep 12
Even AndyD
says...
1:40pm Fri 14 Sep 12
Elle wrote:Our kitchen ceiling fell in a few years ago. Youngest daughter had blocked the bath over-flow with Tinky Winky and left tap to run.
I'd look glum if all this happened right on top of a baby about to be born!
Ceiling had asbestos in it, you wouldn't believe how much more complicated that makes things.
We didn't need anyone to tell us to look glum, glum we were!
matroom
says...
2:48pm Fri 14 Sep 12
yorkie25 wrote:Haha. Love it.
Who's Grace??
matroom
says...
2:48pm Fri 14 Sep 12
Von_Dutch wrote:brilliant.
Leaks happen. They need repairing. The contractor said they'd do any remedial works. What's the story here, or is it another slow news day? And do we need the default 'glum' photo? Really?!?
(Cue Press photographer: "Ms Phillipson, can you put your arm round your daughter and both look as glum as possible please for me... yes that's the one...")
Kelvar
says...
10:05pm Fri 14 Sep 12
yorkie25 wrote:Eagled eyed yorkie25 - V good. I had to go back and re-read it... Bad Press! Naughty press! Go to the bottom of the class!! lol
Who's Grace??
yorkborn66
says...
11:32pm Fri 14 Sep 12
I know a tenant that had to wait 3 months with a leaking tap (washer needed changing). 3 months later a supervisor came to confirm that indeed it was leaking, A plumber came to look at the job the following week but did not fix it, 2 weeks later same plumber came back after many phone calls and fixed the tap.
Then someone came out to make sure the job had been done.
What a total waste of man-hours, customer service and tax payers money. And this is not just a one off.
Sorry I totally disagree, I have seen the shocking work done by sub contractors and it beggars belief. Thank God it’s only the minority.
Final point is that the sub contractor is not there to ill advise a tenant, as a tenant, you are covered under the buildings insurance of CYC, Having contents insurance helps because your insurance company will deal direct with CYC insurance company.
Magicman!
says...
3:24am Sat 15 Sep 12
Even AndyD wrote:I had a porch ceiling collapse a few days after a surveyor was poking around to inspect the house prior to a sale, the ceiling being directly below the bathroom... and it collapsed at what was normally the time the postman came round (though that day he had bene early).... because it was outside and made a heck of a noise I just found it quite funny. Plus it also meant I could get my hammer out to bring the rest of the ceiling down before then rebuilding it with wood cladding!
Elle wrote:Our kitchen ceiling fell in a few years ago. Youngest daughter had blocked the bath over-flow with Tinky Winky and left tap to run.
I'd look glum if all this happened right on top of a baby about to be born!
Ceiling had asbestos in it, you wouldn't believe how much more complicated that makes things.
We didn't need anyone to tell us to look glum, glum we were!
captain nemo
says...
8:24pm Sun 16 Sep 12
Dennis.Dart says...
8:59am Fri 14 Sep 12