Ex-bouncer who fled neighbourhood blighted by drugs and sex workers can't have bath in mouldy home

Terence Daley, 73, can’t even have a bath in his Runcorn home due to excessive damp and crumbling plaster.

The former bouncer was living in a flat in Kensington before moving to a one-bedroom bungalow across the water.

However, his “fresh start” has been plagued by rows with his housing association, who have failed to carry out much-needed repairs.

Mr Daley said: “About 13 years ago I was living in Kensington. The door was at the back of the property, not the front.

“It was a bad area for drugs and sex workers. They would knock on the doors and shout at the windows.

“It’s sad that someone has had to turn to that life but I wanted to get away from it.

“I got a call one day offering me a one bedroom bungalow in Halton. I said I would take it straight away without even looking at it, I was so desperate to get away.”

Mr Daley said he was at first impressed with the bungalow – a Halton Housing Trust (HHT) property on leafy Riversdale Road in Runcorn.

However, things went downhill after contractors employed to do up the bathroom poured a building mix in his brand new bath tub, which is still stained eight years on.

The disgruntled pensioner has failed to get Halton Housing to repair the bathroom, and claims promises of a wet room to suit his health needs have also fallen through.

He said: “I had gone out in the morning, I left them tea bags and milk. When I came back there was a load mixed in the bath, like mortar. It was a brand new bath that had only been in for three days.

“I asked them what they were doing but I got told ‘it’s not your house, you are not paying for it.’

“There is still damp in the bathroom. It’s affecting my breathing.

“It makes you feel dirty and like you can’t have people over. ”

Terence Daley's bath has been stained for eight years

Mr Daley was recently awarded compensation by Halton Housing for outstanding repairs to his property.

The case was settled outside of court with the promise of repairs being completed within 42 days – a time frame which has now passed.

Mr Daley said: “They have not done it at all. They seem to think they are above the law for some apparent reason.

“My health is in a really bad way, I think they are just waiting for me to give up and move.”

The 73-year-old, who lives alone in the property, has complex health issues including heart fibrillation and COPD.

The dad-of-7 grew up in care and described himself as a “natural born loner” who can handle standing up for himself.

However, he has been made to feel depressed by the “dismissive” approach of the housing association.

He said: “I am 73 years of age. I have got severe health issues, COPD, asthma, heart trouble. That makes me more vulnerable to damp.

“They are just dismissive. They are only interested in getting rent off you. I am disabled so i am on housing benefit. They have a habit of reminding you that you don’t pay your own rent.

“It’s just depressing. I don’t go out that much. I just want out of here now but I am not in control of that because it goes off a property pool.

"I think they misjudge me because I’m a big fella.”

A spokesperson from Halton Housing Trust insisted they took complaints seriously and were looking into installing a level access shower for Mr Daley.

She said: “We take customer complaints very seriously at Halton Housing, and where a customer raises concerns about their home, we endeavour to work quickly and responsively with the customer to identify the problem and remedy any issues as soon as possible.

“This case is no different and we are currently working closely with Mr Daley to ensure any outstanding repairs are completed as quickly as possible. In addition, we are looking to install a level access shower in line with Mr. Daley’s requirements.”