A mum-of-four in Bristol has said that her local council is "refusing to take responsibility" for the "awful state" her council exchange property had been left in, with Bristol City Council denying her access to photographic evidence from the initial inspection. Michelle Cowles mutually exchanged her home just weeks ago, but told Bristol Live she was forced to spend two nights sleeping in her car after finding her new property in Bedminster in a "filthy" state after discovering items including "illegal substances" and "faeces on the floor and walls".
She said: “We were homeless for over a week because the council refused to admit they had any responsibility or liability and did absolutely nothing to help accommodate. They said I signed the house exchange paperwork so it's my fault - it's all my responsibility."
Cowles resorted to calling an extreme cleaning company to get the house in living condition, spending several hours across two days cleaning it. “There were faeces on the floor and walls and even a lawnmower with electrical items and grime just piled up in a corner," she added. "It wasn't a very nice state to leave a property in.”
She first viewed the council property in August, when she felt it was in need of decoration, but "very lived in". The house was inspected the next month on 8 September, which it passed.
Cowles said: “In documents received from the surveyor regarding the Bedminster property there was no mention of any damage, broken window or significant amounts of black mould on doors.” She said that prior to contracts being signed, the surveyor made a list featuring relevant work to be completed for each party involved with the exchange process, which included photographic proof from each tenant before the homes could be signed off as "acceptable to move into".
Cowles said the damage included an exposed hole and poor ventilation inside the kitchen, but when reaching out to the council, they claimed the damage had occurred after the initial inspection and refused her access to the pictures the surveyor had taken. She said: “It's a substantial amount of damage that does not just happen over a couple of days. I have spent more than £700 trying to sort out this house including storage fees because I haven’t been able to move all our belongings yet.”
Following the major cleaning job, her front garden is jam-packed with items such as sofas, mattresses, cupboards and broken glass. The council has informed her they will be moved, but failed to "guarantee a removal date." She said: "I was really excited to move but it has just turned into a nightmare - my family's Christmas is ruined."
The property's next inspection will come in January, but she thinks the house should be looked at sooner with fears for her children's health and wellbeing. "The council have a duty to ensure the home and garden are safe and secure and this one isn't."
A Bristol City Council spokesperson said that it is "investigating the situation".
For more stories from where you live, visit InYourArea.
Find recommendations for eating out, attractions and events near you here on our sister website 2Chill
Find recommendations for dog owners and more doggy stories on our sister site Teamdogs
