Grandma’s Christmas ‘ruined’ after simple leak forces her out of her home

A grandma is on the verge of a nervous breakdown after ‘nightmare’ building work carried out in her home has ‘ruined Christmas’.

Tracy Atkins-Glover found a leak in her home in Liverpool two years ago.

She was told by her insurance company at the time to get a building firm to carry out work.

Two years later, Tracy said this normal routine job has turned into a ‘nightmare’.

The 57-year-old and husband Dale moved out when the work was done but when they returned they were unhappy with the results.

Tracy got another builder to inspect the work and he told them that dry rot had spread throughout the house.

She said: ‘At first when we moved back in it seemed fine. Then we started to see brown dust appearing from beneath the floor and the whole floor was bouncing with cracks appearing.’

Tracy and Dale now think they are unwell because of issues in the house.

She added: ‘I’m on the verge of a nervous breakdown. This house is a danger to our health.

‘It is the week before Christmas and we are now trying to find somewhere else to live because this place is giving us respiratory issues and we can’t stay here.

‘I’ve got my Christmas tree in the living room and next to it is just a big hole in the floor. We have to stay upstairs to stay away from the spores.

‘I can’t do Christmas dinner at my house like I always do, I can’t even have my three-year-old granddaughter round.

‘This is destroying my whole life and it has ruined our Christmas. I am absolutely devastated.

‘I am so frightened right now and I can’t see a way out. I feel like everything has been taken from me and I don’t know what will happen next.

‘All I want is to feel safe and comfortable in my own home.’

Tracy and Dale face months living out of their home again while the work is corrected.

Their insurance company, Covéa, says it is still investigating the situation and has now offered to fund temporary accommodation for them.

A spokesperson for Covéa Insurance said: ‘Unfortunately, this is a complex case, and the facts are not clear cut.

‘We are taking all necessary actions including offering alternative accommodation to Mrs Atkins-Glover while our investigations are carried out.

‘We appreciate that this is taking some time but are doing everything possible at the current time to find a resolution for her.’

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