A BOLTON at Home tenant is demanding compensation for repairing his own kitchen.
Brian Shepherd says he has paid about £400 to fix his kitchen, which has been repaired or redesigned three times by the social landlord.
The 58-year-old, who lives in Chapelfield Street, Halliwell, says he has “not had enough help” with living in his home.
But Bolton at Home says it has replaced the kitchen to “maintain standards” at Mr Shepherd’s home — and that it involved him in the design process.
The social landlord also insists it has repaired a leak and carried out work to prevent further problems.
But Mr Shepherd said: “I feel like I’m going round and round in a circle with Bolton at Home.
“You end up talking to the same people and reporting the same problems. I don’t feel like I’m getting enough help with living here. I’ve had to put new tiles in my kitchen and the damage caused by these leakages has been very serious.
“I’ve given Bolton at Home a figure that I would like to receive. If they award me this compensation, I’ll forget it.”
Bolton at Home said work had been going on at the flat since 2008, when the kitchen was replaced to bring it up to “lettable standard”.
The landlord then replaced units following a leak in 2012 and redesigned the kitchen, with Mr Shepherd’s help, in 2013.
A spokesman said: “We redesigned the kitchen and carried out a partial rewire to provide extra sockets.
“We did this to meet current Decent Home standards, providing a worktop to each side of the cooker and more cupboard space than previously.
“We visited Mr Shepherd when he reported damp in his kitchen. We found the plaster to be wet due to a faulty pipe going through the cavity wall from the boiler in the flat above.
“We repaired the leak on the spot. We’ve received requests for compensation, which our insurers haven’t accepted as we’ve not been negligent nor breached our statutory duty.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel