Sheffield mum fears ceiling may fall through after insurance company refuse to pay for storm damage repairs

Jane Tomson, 56, lives in a two-storey house on Underwood Road, in Woodseats, which is continuously open to the elements due to its elevation.

Following the recent spell of bad weather, the single mother-of-two says she now fears her ceiling may fall through after a mixture of heavy winds and torrential rain meant her roof tiles dislodged sending water “pouring” through her daughter's bedroom ceiling.

Jane tried to claim on her insurance, which was organised by Halifax Home Insurance (HAP) and underwritten by Lloyds Bank General Insurance Limited, but says her claim has been rejected on the grounds that the damage is classed as ‘wear and tear’.

She said: “The storms last year left loose tiles on the roof which needed replacing. I had someone out for that and they said I might have problems later as the water was starting to get underneath.

“It’s a constant issue when there is stormy weather, the house isn’t sheltered. In late last year, it was really bad, the water was coming in through the ceiling upstairs. I had to borrow £500 from my mother for those repairs, they replaced two lots of wood and the damaged felt.

“Now the water is literally pouring in through the ceiling and I just can’t afford it anymore.”

Jane, who is a full-time carer for her elderly mother, says she has now been told the damage is because she has not carried out regular roof maintenance.

“The guttering and the drains are always cleaned, they wanted me to regularly get rid of the moss but moss wouldn’t do that damage” she added.

“I just fear it is going to get worse, I’ve got to the stage where I think the ceiling will come down. My daughter has electronics, an iPad and old laptop, which are now water damaged and I’ve never claimed for that I’ve just replaced those myself,” she added.

A Halifax spokesperson said: “When we spoke to Mrs Tomson about a previous claim last year, our report made clear that she would need to carry out repairs to her property. Unfortunately, these repairs were never completed and the evidence we have reviewed points to damage that has happened gradually through lack of maintenance.

“Poor weather can often highlight wear and tear issues which are not covered by insurance. It’s important to take steps to maintain your home to help protect it from damage caused by bad weather.”