‘House flood horror on return from my holiday’
ARUNCORN man returned home from holiday to find water flooding his living room and bathroom.
Paul Thompson, 55, said the problem left him unable to cook and having to shower either at the gym or an understanding neighbour’s house.
When the Weekly News visited the property, on Schooner Close in Murdishaw, the bungalow smelled of damp and the living room carpet squelched with water when stepped on.
Brown staining on the curtains marked where Mr Thompson said the water level reached – nearly a foot off the floor.
He said firefighters who visited were shocked to find the property in such a state and sprang into action, isolating the power and fetching a large container to catch water.
They left a handover notice instructing him not to turn on the power.
Cheshire Fire And Rescue Service has confirmed to the Weekly News that firefighters attended the address due to water pouring through a hole in the roof and that crews isolated the electricity supply.
Mr Thompson, who suffered life-changing injuries in a motorbike collision several years ago, said he feared he could have been electrocuted if he turned the electricity on.
He said he rang an outof-hours support line provided by Michael C Adams (MCA) estate and lettings agents and said he was advised to turn the power on, a claim vehemently denied by the company, which said the overnight support service asked him to log the incident details online, something which tenants usually do on their smart phone.
Discussing the moment he returned home from holiday in Jersey, he said: “I put my key in the door at 1.15am.
“You know when you get in the bath and water fills up – that’s what the water was like coming through the roof.
“I’ve panicked a bit – what a wonderful way to come off holiday.
“It’s pouring through three holes in the roof.”
After two separate overnight calls to MCA’s support line, he contacted the company again and fire crews were dispatched.
He said: “They phoned the fire brigade and within 12-13 minutes there was a fireman outside.
“The second they came in the living room they switched on – ‘John isolate the power, Joe get a bucket, Rob get on the roof’ – they were absolutely brilliant.
“I’m 55, I’ve never been in a situation like this.”
Lorraine O’Neill, Michael C Adams (MCA) lettings manager said: “Mr Thompson contacted MCA out-of-hours contact service on his return from holiday and reported a roof leak, which to the best of my knowledge was at approximately 1.30am Monday, June 12, 2019, and again at 6am.
“MCA have been informed by the out-ofhours facilitator, Mr Thompson was instructed to report his issue through the online reporting software provided by MCA.
“Under no circumstances would our ‘out of hours’ telephone answering service deviate from the instructions they have on their screens and tell a tenant to turn the power on.
“The online reporting system is designed to enhance the efficiency of the service we provide to our tenants as it creates a complete transactional log between the tenant, contractor and ourselves.
“The majority of our tenants log their repairs and maintenance issues via their smart phone.
“When normal office hours resumed at 9am, June 12, MCA appointed a contractor to attend urgently to assess the property.” ●