‘It’s depressing’: Northampton woman frustrated as guttering broken for months causes water to gush outside her flat

Patricia Yates has been left frustrated as the guttering problem has not been dealt with for months.

A Northampton woman has been left frustrated by an ongoing housing issue which means hot water often gushes down the outside wall of her flat.

Patricia Yates lives in a ground floor flat on Newnham Road, Kingsthorpe where the guttering on her outside wall has been broken for a number of months.

In two separate places, part of the guttering has fallen off meaning there are two gaps causing water to flow out uncontrollably when her upstairs neighbours run their washing machines or wash up.

The broken guttering has fallen into Patricia's small garden.

Due to the water, moss has grown on the outside wall and Patricia is unable to open her kitchen window in fear of water gushing in.

The 77-year-old says sometimes the water can be extremely hot, which means it is too dangerous for her grandchildren to be outside in her small front garden in case water starts falling.

Patricia has contacted her housing association - Northampton Partnership Homes (NPH) - several times over the last few months to ask for the guttering to be repaired, but nothing has been done.

The frustrated resident said: “It’s depressing me really and I don’t need this stress at my age.

The two gaps in the guttering can be seen directly above Patricia's flat.

“When the water starts dripping, I can hear it and I just dread it.

“It has affected my garden as it has broken some ornaments and plant pots and I can’t open my kitchen window when I’m cooking.

“It’s disgusting really.

“I’ve called so many times but no one has been out and the virus can’t be an excuse because it’s not an indoor job.”

NPH has admitted the issue should have been fixed ‘urgently’ but due to ‘administrative errors’, the company was not fully aware of the situation.

Chronicle & Echo contacted NPH on Thursday evening (March 25) about the issue and received a response on Friday afternoon (March 26).

The housing association said a team member would visit Patricia’s house on the same day.

Gary Duckmanton, assistant director of property maintenance at NPH added: “I’m sorry for the delays in making the repairs to Mrs Yates’ home.

“This issue should have been fixed urgently.

“Administrative errors led to us not fully understanding the situation, and the work was not logged as urgent.

“I sincerely apologise to Mrs Yates for this.

“We have not met our expected levels of service and I will be fully investigating the reasons for this.

“I will make sure that the repairs are completed urgently.”

Patricia confirmed that an NPH member of staff did visit on Friday afternoon and said repairs will take place next week.

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