A WOMAN says she fears returning home to her flat after her property flooded for the fourth time causing thousands of pounds of damage.

Jamila Saleem, 58, who suffers with angina, diabetes and severe arthritis, says she has been blighted by three years of problems at her property in Aberdeen Drive, Blackburn.

Ms Saleem said she has been plagued by leaks coming from the ceiling of her flat.

But she said the final straw came on Friday evening when she returned home from shopping to find her kitchen ceiling had fallen in and her living room ceiling was severely water damaged.

Ms Saleem, who has three cats, also criticised landlords Together Housing for what she believes is a lack of action about her concerns.

Ms Saleem said: “I got home from shopping on Friday evening. The taxi driver put the shopping in my property. That’s when we saw the kitchen ceiling was down and the living room ceiling was almost down. There was water in the fittings. It’s an absolute disgrace.

“I had just decorated and all my furniture is ruined. I am homeless. I can’t carry on like this. I have moved in with my cousin but that is not a permanent solution.

“I can’t go back to the property. It is uninhabitable, especially with my disabilities. It is a health and safety risk. I have already had leaks coming from the ceiling on three or four occasions but this is by far the worst. If I went back there I would be living in fear of it happening again”

Together Housing’s Lee Winterbottom, head of planning and delivery, said: “We have been in regular dialogue with our resident Ms Saleem regarding issues in her home on Aberdeen Drive in Blackburn.

“As a result of water damage caused from an upstairs flat we sent staff to undertake a temporary works to ensure that the property was safe. We intend start a full repair today.”