Mum left with bedsheet for loo door as council workers rip bathroom out and vanish
Laura Copestick said she had been forced to shower at the homes of friends and family daily for almost two months as her bathroom was rendered unusable.
She used a bed sheet as a toilet door for the most basic privacy and stale water had been left in the untiled bath at her Bartley Green council flat, she said.
READ MORE: Couple who starved their dog told RSPCA inspectors she was 'given to them by drug dealers'
Birmingham City Council said the work had now resumed.
Laura said she had spent around £1,000 of her own money on bathroom improvements before workers from the council told her they would be renovating it as it had to be "up to a standard."
Other homes owned by the authority also had the same work carried out in the area, she said.
But Laura said her project was never finished. She claimed the council 'cut the job' because she made complaints about the work.
READ MORE: In pictures: State of mum's bathroom after 'botched' council renovation
"They took every tile off the wall, annihilated the bathroom - it's still like that now," she said.
"There are holes everywhere. They ripped up my carpets, ruined them. The wall is falling down, they've tried to bodge it up.
"Hygiene boards are on backwards, I complained, they said it doesn't matter, but it does because it will leak. They didn't do it right so I kept making complaints.
"They said if I complained once time, they were cutting the job, leaving me without any bathing facilities for six weeks [now seven]."
"It's disgusting. I begged and begged, I've been on the phone 100 times a day to different people."
Laura said her mental health had been affected by the saga. During the project, her toilet door was removed, with the council telling her a replacement would come 'the same day'.
"But it never turned up," she explained.
"It's left me feeling really depressed, getting on the phone every day, being passed from pillar to post, and being told it's the first time they've knew about it, even though they've known a long time.
"It's just inhumane, it's basic human rights and no one seems to care."
Birmingham City Council said: "We are aware of the concerns raised by Ms Copestick regarding the bathroom renovation at her property and understand the impact this has had.
"Contractors initially began the work in late June but were asked to leave the property by our tenants following a breakdown in communication. We regret the delay this has caused.
"A new team of contractors began work on July 28 to complete the bathroom renovations. We expect the renovation to be completed by Friday or early next week.
"We are committed to ensuring all works are carried out as soon as possible and to a satisfactory standard."
Have you been affected by this? We would like to hear from you. You can contact us by emailing stephanie.balloo@reachplc.com
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