A HOMEOWNER has been unable to live in his flat for 12 years after a minor water leak repair was allegedly botched by insurers.
Ian Gibbon, 52, said his £300,000 property is lying in ruins and reckons it would now cost around £1million to fix.
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Insurers Axa took his keys and agreed to cover the cost of floor repairing and moved the council worker into hotels when a blocked drain damaged his floor in 2010.
But delays on the work in Glasgow meant water damage spread to the walls and he was moved into a rental property.
He told the Daily Record: “My life has been on hold this whole time because of this minor repair. But it is now 12 years and my house is lying in ruins.
“It was just fat that was poured into a sink and blocked the drains. I was told I’d be moved into a hotel for six weeks.
“It was incredibly frustrating. I was getting nowhere. It wasn’t just the cost of the property.
“All my possessions were put into storage, where they remain. I’ve had to replicate my life.”
A Financial Ombudsmen ruling found Axa mistreated Ian and accused the firm of treating him with contempt.
By the time Axa resumed work in 2016, further damage took the cost to £160,000.
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Ian bought a new home in 2017 and Axa stopped paying his expenses in September 2019.
He said: “They gave me my keys back last year and I couldn’t believe what it has been left like. Since they stopped paying my expenses, I have invoiced them for my costs and it now runs to over £200,000.
“I’m paying the utilities, mortgages and council tax in two properties.
“Axa said they would repair the work. I don’t want to settle. I’ve not heard from them since 2020 and even my lawyer is now being snubbed.”
Axa, whose most recent offer to settle was £250,000, said: “We sympathise with Mr Gibbon’s situation.
“However, the majority of damage to his property was not caused by the original water leak for which he is insured.
“We’ve offered a cash settlement and continue to communicate via his legal representative.”
