Pensioner collects 120 gallons of water from flat ceiling

Patricia Brant, 79, has endured ruined carpets, destroyed personal belongings and more than eight weeks of collecting water which has been leaking through the ceiling of her flat in Surrey Court following an accident upstairs.

Patricia has spoken out against housing association Vivid, claiming they have used every opportunity to shift responsibility for fixing the damage and not supported the widowed pensioner.

The damage done to Patricia Brant's flat after the flooding from upstairs (Image: Ross Marshall)

She added: “Vivid told me that the damage done to my flat was not their responsibility and that I would have to make the tenant upstairs pay for the damage.

“When I walk through my flat, I feel as if I’m walking through a puddle."

After complaining about the way Vivid had responded, Patricia said it agreed to repair the damage - but said she would have to redecorate herself.

She said: “I am a widowed pensioner living alone that suffers with COPD and asthma – there has been no support from Vivid at all.”

The water has damaged Patricia's walls, ceiling and carpet (Image: Ross Marshall)

COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a lung condition which causes breathing difficulties.

The mother-of-two moved to the flat 8 years ago with her husband, who passed away after only two months living at the flat.

She continued: “I had to point out to Vivid that all landlords are responsible for damage done by another tenant.

“I have had to deal with so many nasty and uncomfortable phone calls just to get the company to accept responsibility for this.

“I have now also been diagnosed with stress and depression as a result of this incident.”

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In a letter to Patricia, seen by the Echo, Vivid Chief Executive Mark Perry said: “Whilst I understand that Mrs Brant is frustrated, I would ask her to please refrain from taking it out on the people who are trying to help her.”

In response to this incident, Head of Property Services at Vivid, Carolyn Munns, said: “We have been working closely with Mrs Brant from Surrey Court and have been in regular contact with her to get works planned in.

“On the day the unfortunate accident happened in the neighbouring flat, we were made aware and immediately and went to site to isolate the leak and make the homes effected safe. 

“Unfortunately, we have had to wait for the ceiling to dry out fully before planning in repair works, a humidifier is in place to aid this. Having visited Mrs Brant in her home again we are able to organise the repair.”

Vivid have now offered Patricia £250 compensation.