A frustrated family claims the developer of their newbuild home has blamed its “swamp-like” garden on their child and two dogs.
Mum Ellis Reid, 31, and partner Douglas Horn, 42, have watched on in horror as the back door of their new-build social house has become a marshland.
What was once lush green grass has now become a “mushy mess” with “algae growing in the house” owned by firm Riverside Housing, in Ayrshire, Scotland.
The couple told Ayrshire Live how they moved in August last year, with Ellis excited for a fresh start with her son, Landon and their two dogs. However, in just seven months her dream garden has turned into a nightmare.
Ellis said: “When I first moved in it was great for the wee man, he could play and have his friends round. Now I just shut the curtains. I’m sick of the sight of it. It’s like having a swamp attached to your house. There is algae growing up the fence and on plant pots.
“We can’t let the dogs out any more – they just refuse to go out in it. They have to use the patio to go to the toilet because they won’t go on the grass. I wouldn’t be surprised if we had tadpoles in it soon, it’s got its own eco-system.
“I’m dreading the summer, I just wanted to be able to sit outside in the garden when the weather improves but we’ve got no chance of that now. I’m worried it’s starting to trail into the house, when it really rains it just floods, even the patio floods.”
The pair say they have had enough after being bogged down with “excuses”, with a sub-contractor supplied by Riverside Housing allegedly telling Ellis that her son and two dogs are to blame.
Douglas said: “The back garden has just flooded anytime we’ve had rainfall. The garden is ruined it is constantly waterlogged. We’ve had contractors come out on that twice. The first time they agreed with me that there was no drainage in the back garden.
“When they came out the second time they were only here for a couple of minutes, later that night I was sent an email to say the state of the garden was because of our two dogs and my partner’s four-year-old son. It is unbelievable to think they could be capable of causing that much mess. It’s just lazy blaming a child and dogs for their own failings. There is clearly a drainage issue.”
The family claim that Environmental Health officers came out to the property to inspect, with inspectors telling them there was a “drainage issue”.
A South Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “An officer from our Environmental Health team has been investigating a complaint regarding garden drainage and are discussing the matter with the complainer and Housing Association.”
A Riverside Scotland representative said: “We have contacted the tenants and arranged to visit the property and are working with the contractor to help the tenants resolve any issues.”
