Housing firm Persimmon homes have been accused of causing extensive flood damage to a Houghton Property by blocking a critical manhole on a nearby construction site, ruining a family home.
Jo Lanaghan, from Houghton, lives opposite a construction site under the contract of Persimmon Homes. Over the past few years, house building in Sunderland has become sporadic as local authorities have greenlighted the sale of any empty land possible for the sake of building.
In April this year, Lanaghan says contractors from the company accidentally blocked a manhole while pursuing construction at the Houghton site. The hole was significant as it channeled water flows from the area to a site five miles aways.
The blockage of the manhole created a drainage problem which subsequently built up and flooded her home. The impact has caused “thousands of pounds” worth of damage. Northumbrian water soon intervened and unblocked the pipe after a seven hour effort, but that hasn’t been the end of the family’s woes.
As of July, they have not been able to move back into their home. Although the home was insured, which is covering the extent of repairs, it has been a long and lengthy process and the entire bottom floor of the home has to be replaced. They also fear that the home will now be designated a “flood risk” and therefore they’ll have to pay higher insurance fees in future.
Lanaghan contends that Persimmon homes have been dismissive of the incident and apathetic towards attempts to contact them. She hasn’t heard from them since May, and accuses the company of negligence.