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Family-of-four demand bigger council house after being given ‘absolute shambles’ property needing ‘£17,000 of repairs’

A FAMILY-OF-FOUR have demanded a bigger council house after being given a “disgusting” property needing “£17,000 of repairs”.

Sophie Taylor and her partner James Waite, both 25, moved to their “new beginning” two-bedroom house in Cheadle, Staffordshire, with their children Ruby, two, and Thomas, four, in June.

BPMSophie Taylor and her partner James Waite, both 25, moved to Cheadle, Staffordshire, with their children[/caption]

But they swiftly discovered a long list of complaints – including missing bins, an unlevel garden, holes in the drive, and a “condemned” garage.

Sophie, blasted the house as “an absolute shambles”, and insisted the “whole structure of the house needs to be done”.

She claims they moved to the property so James – who suffers from mental health issues – could utilise the garden.

She said: “Due to James’ disability we needed a lot of space. But we can’t use the garden at all. It’s so unlevel and there are holes in the ground.

“We’ve been told that the garage has been condemned because it’s so lopsided that it needs to be knocked down and rebuilt again.

“The concrete at the back of the garden and the driveway is full of cracks and holes. It’s five-inch deep holes, it’s disgusting.


“The front lawn and everything needs redoing. The brick wall at the
front is falling down.

“The whole structure of the house needs to be done.”

She said she is still waiting for repairs to be carried out – and wants compensation and a bigger property.

It has been estimated that the repair bill will run to £17,000.

Sophie, a housing officer, added: “My children can’t go out in
the garden. It’s disgusting. I want to move now.

“The neighbours are making comments about how horrible the house looks.

“Everyone else’s houses look really nice and then you’ve got this
house which is an absolute shambles.

“The only thing I can use my garden for is putting the washing on a line.

“My kids have suffered, I’ve suffered, and my partner has suffered.”

A Sanctuary Housing spokesperson said the firm wants to “reach an agreement” with Sophie.

They said said: “We are committed to carrying out further maintenance at this property and our external contractor has visited to assess the work that is required.

“We would like to reach an agreement with Miss Taylor about this work and will continue to discuss it with her so it can be started as soon as possible.”

BPMThe couple have complained of an unlevel garden[/caption]

BPMThey swiftly discovered a long list of complaints[/caption]

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