A Kenilworth family remain locked in a "horrendous" 18-month battle with the council after "cowboy" builders caused major water damage in their home.

Nick Collett and his family say they returned home from holiday in September 2023 to find scaffolding up next door and rainwater "gushing" into their house on Dudley Road as the guttering shared across the two properties was badly repaired by council contractors.

The family's utility room, new kitchen and conservatory have been "ruined" by the water, with the damage only getting worse as a permanent fix is yet to be found.

Contractors from Warwick District Council (WDC) have since been out twice to try and fix the broken guttering, but water continues to enter the Collett's home.

"It's been 18 months now," Mr Collett told Nub News.

"We've complained, they came back out and put new gutters up - they replaced the really nice deep gutters with cheap stuff and it still wasn't fixed.

"We had scaffolding up in our garden for eight months right through the summer - we couldn't open the windows all that time.

"Now the guttering is still leaking in three places."

Having continued to complain about the still-broken gutters as well as the damage to his property, Mr Collett said he has been quoted over £10,000 for the repairs.

He said the council admitted the fault of its contractors last year, but he remains in an insurance battle to try and get the money and the repairs sorted.

"There's just been no communication at all," the father of two explained.

"I keep being told they are waiting on insurance

"Because they left it so long, the damage has gotten worse and worse and worse. 

"It's been horrendous."

Mr Collett said he knows of four other residents who have faced similar issues following errors from council contractors.

He was also quick to thank local councillor Richard Hales for his support over the last 18 months, but said he should not have to continually ask a councillor to continually step in just to get answers from the local authority.

"They don't talk to me, they just don't care" Mr Collett added.

"It is not fair.

"We work hard to be able to afford to live in Kenilworth, the house is nice, we have paid for work in the kitchen and now we can't use it.

"The lack of response; they treat you like c**p.

"A £400 repair has gone up to probably £14,000 once everything is factored in.

"I told the council I can't believe they waste taxpayers money this way."

Nub News approached the council for an update and an explanation on the delays to the repairs.

A WDC spokesperson said: "A Warwick District Council officer visited both properties on Monday 26 January and is working with the residents involved to resolve the situation through their respective insurance companies."