‘Christmas ruined’ after construction work turns house into ‘nightmare’

Tracy Atkins-Glover says she’s on the verge of a nervous breakdown over ongoing problems with her home

A distraught Liverpool woman says her Christmas was ruined after routine building work turned her home into a “nightmare”.

Two years ago, Tracy Atkins-Glover discovered a leak in her house on Devonfield Road in Orrell Park in Liverpool. She says she was informed by her insurance company, Covéa, to call on a construction company to carry out the work. But two years later, Atkins-Glover says what should have been a routine job has turned into a disaster.

The 57-year-old and her husband Dale had to leave their home while the work was carried out. But when they returned, they were worried about what had been done. She said another builder came to inspect the work and told them dry rot had spread throughout the house. The couple thinks the problems with the house are making them sick.

Ms Atkins-Glover said: “At first when we came back everything seemed fine. Then we started seeing brown dust appear under the floor and the whole floor was bouncing and cracks were appearing. We asked another builder to come out and look. and that’s when we realized how serious everything was. He said we had to demolish the entire first floor again. The couple have now been offered temporary accommodation by their insurance company.

She added: “I’m on the verge of a nervous breakdown. This house is a danger to our health. It’s the week before Christmas and we are now trying to find somewhere else to live because this place is giving us breathing problems and we are can’t stay here. I have my Christmas tree in the living room and next to it there is just a big hole in the floor. We have to stay upstairs to stay away from the spores.

“I can’t have Christmas dinner at home like I always do, I can’t even have my three-year-old granddaughter over. It’s destroying my whole life and it’s ruined our Christmas. I’m absolutely devastated. I I’m so scared right now and I don’t see a way out I feel like everything has been taken from me and I don’t know what’s going to happen next it’s feeling safe and. comfortable in my own home.

Ms. Atkins-Glover and her husband now face months of living away from home again while the work is corrected. She says she spent a month trying to convince her insurance company to come look at the condition of the house. The company says it is still investigating the situation and has now offered to fund temporary accommodation for the couple.

A spokesperson for Covéa Assurance said: “Unfortunately, this is a complex matter and the facts are not clear. We are taking all necessary steps, including providing alternative accommodation for Ms. Atkins-Glover while our investigations are conducted. We understand that this will take some time, but we are currently doing everything we can to find a solution for her.