Politics & Council · Swindon
Swindon council tenant says flood left her in damp and pest-hit home
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
A Pinehurst resident says her council home remains affected by damp, damaged flooring and insects more than a year after a leaking radiator caused extensive flooding. Swindon Borough Council says it is working with her to resolve the problems.
A Swindon council tenant says she has been left living with damp, smells and insects after a leaking radiator flooded her Pinehurst home.
Michelle Avery had lived in the three-bedroom property for around 20 years when a small leak in a rusted radiator worsened in May 2025. She said she woke to find water across the hallway and living room, rising close to the first step of the staircase.
More than a year later, she says the consequences of the flood have still not been fully resolved. She claims it took about three months for the water to be removed and that she eventually pulled up the soaked carpet underlay herself because she was waiting for contractors to deal with it.
Avery told the Swindon Advertiser that the condition of the property has affected both her and her daughter’s mental wellbeing. She also says the damp smell remains and that she has been bitten by insects beneath the carpet around the stairs.
According to Avery, an initial inspection identified extensive mould and a list of 12 jobs, including replacing a wall. She says the planned work did not follow as expected. By the time of a second inspection, the wall had dried out, and she was told that further work to it was not required.
She said another wall was later removed after mould was found beneath the skirting boards, while the wall she believed had been damaged by the flood remained in place.
The council has removed the old radiator, replaced wooden flooring and repainted walls. Avery says she is still seeking pest control treatment, checks to the carpets in the hallway and on the stairs, and replacement of other items she believes were damaged.
She also disputes the suggestion that she should have reported the radiator before it failed. Avery said the leak was a tiny pinhole that she could not reasonably have detected and argued that the age of the radiators should have prompted earlier replacement. She also said regular gas safety visits had taken place at the property.
Swindon Borough Council said it encouraged tenants to report concerns directly rather than through the media. A council spokesperson confirmed that officials were working with the tenant to address the issues, but did not provide further details about the outstanding repairs.
The case leaves the condition of the remaining carpets, the pest problem and any further remedial work unresolved. Avery wants the council to accept responsibility for the disruption and complete what she considers necessary to make the home fully liveable again.
Source: Swindon Advertiser - Politics · View original