Megan Haggerty and her children are living in an overcrowded bedsit

A MOTHER and her children are still living in overcrowded emergency accommodation almost two months after a flood wrecked their home.

Megan Haggerty and her two daughters woke up on the morning of August 8 to find their home under water. A burst water main in Tollington Road left water pumping into the surrounding streets, submerging businesses and homes.

She watched helplessly as the water “gushed down” into her home in Hornsey Road. “I was trying to brush all the water out with a broom so that it wouldn’t go in the bedrooms,” she said.

But for Ms Haggerty, a Clarion Housing Association tenant, this was only the beginning of an ordeal that is still unfolding today.

Clarion refused Thames Water’s offer to repair the property, instead taking responsibility for fixing the house.

They moved Ms Haggerty into temporary accommodation in Upper Street, where the family now share an overcrowded bedsit.

“I’m sleeping on a camp bed and my children are in the double bed,” she said.

Because Ms Haggerty lived in a one-bedroom flat with her children, Clarion insists she is only eligible for a property “of a similar size”, despite the fact the entire family have long been forced to share a single bedroom.

More than seven weeks after the flood, the family are no closer to finding a permanent home.

Flooding in August

The housing association has said the building will not be habitable for several months.

Despite this assessment, Ms Haggerty has criticised Clarion for refusing to recognise the severity of the repairs needed. She has called on it to recognise “major works” are needed on the property.

In the aftermath of the flood, Ms Haggerty had to sign off work for two weeks with stress. She said her children “are not coping very well”, particularly as they return to school. She is now being supported by Mildmay councillor Jenny Kay in her fight to find suitable accommodation.

A Clarion spokesperson said: “Ms Haggerty and her family had to move from their home due to the damage caused by flooding when a Thames Water main burst in their street last month.

“We understand how disruptive this must have been for the family.

“As they are currently in a one-bedroomed home, we immediately moved them into a serviced apartment of a similar size while we assessed the damage and the work needed to repair their permanent home.

“Unfortunately, this assessment revealed that the home would not be ready for a number of months. As there are no available social housing properties of the size needed in the areas Ms Haggerty has requested, we are exploring the option of renting a property in the private sector on a temporary basis, at no additional cost to Ms Haggerty.

“At the moment we have not been able to start the works to Ms Haggerty’s property as she has not given us access as yet.

“We have been in frequent contact with her and will continue trying to gain access in order to complete the works so the family can move back into their home as quickly as possible.”