“It’s a cheek,” says the man after the housing association’s compensation offer

‘I didn’t even realize it until I got the call, because it went straight into the flat below me. When the surveyor came to look, they couldn’t figure out what was causing it, so I was stuck.

“Eventually a carpenter came along by chance and noticed and it was repaired. A two-minute job took two years, but as you can see the floor is still in place and nothing has been repaired yet.”

A spokesperson for Torus said: “The first report of water ingress into his living room was received in January and the repair took longer than expected due to the length of the investigation into the cause, resulting in the work being completed on July 3.”

Ian said the second incident of water damage happened in July this year when water started pouring through his ceiling above the front door into the hallway. He said: “I got up at around 4am and was looking for my inhaler when I walked into water in the hallway and bathroom.

“When I first reported it they said the engineers were not available and nothing could be done until the next day, so nothing was done until the day after the leak was reported. I had to stay up all night to fix it check the level of the container.

“The next day they came out to fix the leak and then started repairing the plaster on the ceiling. That was in July and it is now almost November and nothing else has been done. In that time you can build a new house.”

In response to a question about the second incident, Torus said: “Repairs to the hallway were postponed due to the need for replacement door architraves which were not part of the original work, but this will be done along with updating the skirting boards and soundproofing on November 11 be completed.”

Ian said the two water leak problems and the resulting damage to his home have caused him a lot of stress, which has been exacerbated by the maintenance delays. He said the investment he made in furnishing his home and installing new floors has been wiped out.

The discomfort was particularly palpable for Ian as he has been diagnosed with mental health issues including anxiety and depression. He said: “I was delighted when I got this place and thought I would finally be able to create a nice, relaxing home, but everything that has happened has taken that away and I am completely stressed out about it.

“It has really had an impact on my mental health, not to mention the practical aspects of living in these circumstances. I mean, I’ve been walking around on chipped concrete with all my belongings piled up for months now.

“Torus offered me compensation of £50 for the inconvenience and £50 for the worry and stress, but I spent a lot more than just on towels, tidying up and replacing items. It’s a bit strange if you ask me and it feels like a kick in the teeth after everything I’ve been through.”

Torus has confirmed that it will review the compensation issue once the apartment is completed on November 4. Paul Warburton, Group Director of Housing Services at Torus, said: “We apologize to Mr McDonald for the level of service he experienced. does not meet our expected standards.

Mr Warburton added: “To try to make things right with Mr McDonald we have also agreed to replace the floor in the hallway, lift and relay the laminate flooring in his living room and install lighting that he bought. We will discuss compensation directly with him to reflect the time and difficulty these issues have caused.”