(herefordtimes.com)
A Herefordshire man faces a second Christmas away from the house he continues to pay rent on, as his social landlord prepares to put right defects with it and others on the estate.
Eddy Parkinson was “decanted” from his home in Roman Close, Leintwardine in October 2024, managed by Platform Housing Group, after issues with damp and structural soundness were found at the property, which at the time he shared with his daughter.
They were moved first to a Travelodge, then an AirBnB, then a house in Ledbury on the other side of the county, where he still lives.
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The floors of his house were meanwhile taken up in a bid to identify the source of the damp problem, which led to mould on carpets and furniture, despite Mr Parkinson extracting “litres each day” from a room dehumidifier.
The former lorry driver now suffers from breathing difficulties, which forms part of a legal claim he is pursuing with Platform.
“My life is miles away from where I live, and financially it’s a nightmare,” Mr Parkinson said. “It’s affected every aspect of my life.”
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Others in the 20-home development, built in 2012, have been impacted and some have also had to move out, he added.
Yet he and others are still keen to hold onto their properties. “I couldn’t afford to live in Herefordshire otherwise,” he said.
Platform has now said it is seeking a contractor to carry out “specialist remedial works” worth £350,000 on the properties between March and May next year.
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This will “address a long-standing design and construction defect affecting several homes, with the aim of delivering a permanent technical solution,” its tender says.
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The “bespoke and complex” work will involve “intrusive opening-up, localised structural interventions, remedial strengthening, rebuilding or replacement of defective elements, resolution of moisture and thermal bridging issues, and full internal and external reinstatement”.
“Maintaining effective resident liaison will be essential,” the tender adds.
Platform’s chief operations officer Marion Duffy said: “Once we have appointed the contractor to undertake the remedial works at Roman Close in Leintwardine, we will continue to keep in regular contact with our customers to confirm the dates to carry out the works required as well as the expected completion dates.”