An elderly Black Country couple who say they were forced to move out of their last home because it is being knocked down as part of a regeneration programme say they arrived at their new one to find it in a worse state.
They say it had problem windows and a door they could not shut. Great grandparents Joan, 69 and Alan Hill, 74, say they “couldn’t believe their eyes” when they got to their new home in Chester Road in West Bromwich yesterday.
They found one window pane completely missing and several others with cracks or holes in.
And when they stepped inside they say they found a heater hanging off the wall and realised the back door would not close and the front door kept blowing open.
They had lived at nearby Millfields Road for 42 years but say they had to move after their house was earmarked to be knocked down as part of a £200 million regeneration scheme.
The move came just a couple of weeks after Joan, a former sewing machinist, suffered a heart attack which she is currently recovering from.
Alan, a former tool setter said: “We could not believe it, it was an absolute disgrace. It was in a pretty bad state and was no where near finished. When we arrived there was no windows.”
The pair have four children, 14 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Daughter Michelle Sghaier a health care assistant said: “They viewed it a few weeks ago and were told not to worry and that everything would be fine. When we arrived it was worse than the house which is being knocked down. To say we are angry is an understatement.”
Alix Bell, from Riverside Housing Association, which manages the home, said today: “Our contractors spent the day at Mr and Mrs Hill’s house yesterday and all outstanding issues have been resolved.”
Share this article:
What are these?