A Gateshead man says he has spent months sleeping on his sofa while he waits for the council to fix a severe leak in his bedroom roof.
James Watson has lived in a one-bedroom flat at Greenfields in Ryton since August last year but by Christmas water started dripping from the ceiling. The 55-year-old claims he contacted Gateshead Council straight away and an electrician was sent out to make the property safe.
However, James says no one had been out to fix the leak which has only got worse with the recent spells of snow and ice. The dad-of-two told Chronicle Live the leak has been so severe that his mattress has been left soaking on a number of occasions - forcing him to sleep on the sofa for weeks at a time.
READ MORE: Gateshead clairvoyant who beat cancer on exposing cheating partners and mystery illnesses
"When I moved in last August I got brand new carpets and it was a lovely place to live but ever since the ice and snow in December the problem started," James said.
"I've got a constant leak coming through the roof of my bedroom. I have been sleeping on the couch because I can't sleep in the bed as it's wet.
"I was sleeping on the sofa all over Christmas until the back end of February. I went back to the bed for two weeks and then I've had to go back on the couch again."
James said when the leak started in December he contacted Gateshead Council on the emergency number but nearly three months later he is still waiting for someone to fix the leak.
"I contacted the council the day after Boxing Day on the emergency hotline number and they sent an electrician down to make the electrics safe and said they would come back when the roof had dried," he said.
In the meantime, James has been collecting the water in a bucket on the top of his wardrobe which he empties regularly. He believes it is only a matter of time before the leak affects the downstairs.
"The bucket on the top of the wardrobe and moved my bed to the other side and it was working but due to the amount of water coming down the ceiling has started to swell," James said.
"So the drip has moved elsewhere now and when I came back home on Monday night the who bed was soaking. I have put the bed next to the wall and got a fan to try and dry it out."
He continued: "The problem is getting worse and it's going to be affecting the downstairs before long. It's actually running for the walls now."
James says he has called the council every week since the issue began but has been told he has to wait until April as the repair work requires scaffolding. The HGV driver says this is not good enough and claims he has not even been offered temporary accommodation in the meantime.
"I have been constantly on the phone to Gateshead Council and just getting passed about," James said.
"They have given me a date for someone to come out about the roof but said they are waiting for scaffolding so it is not until April.
"They don't seem to be in any hurry whatsoever."
He added: "It's frustrating it's just not getting fixed. It is just a nightmare."
Gateshead Council has been contacted for comment.
READ NEXT:
- Meet the mum hoping to be crowned Ms Great Britain aged 43 after winning best dressed at Newcastle Ladies' Day in £19 dress
- Inside new Argentinian restaurant Gaucho serving the 'best steak in the world' as it gets set to open in Newcastle
- Look inside the stylish new tearoom in Newcastle city centre with secret cinema
- Inside Aveika as Newcastle Quayside restaurant loved by Harrison Ford undergoes glamorous £300,000 makeover
