Gosport family have to live in hotel as leak ruins house

She is frustrated with the lack of action since leaks ruined their home.

The situation is so bad that Joanne and her three children have had to move into a hotel.

And she said having to fight the problems alone while her husband is away makes it even harder.

A leaking pipe in their boiler has ruined the bedroom carpet and the bed, and Joanne, from Gosport, says her health and that of her children have been affected.

‘I am having to deal with this on my own, which is difficult,’ said the 39-year-old.

‘My husband doesn’t get back until July and doesn’t know about the condition of the house.

‘I thought the MoD would have acted faster seeing as we have no choice where we live but it has been two weeks now.

‘We have been living here for nine years and this is the third time the pipes have leaked.’

Joanne and her two youngest children, aged 10 and eight, are living in the Premier Inn in Gosport.

But her 17-year-old son is having to stay at the house, on Withies Road, to look after their pets.

Joanne added: ‘It is a horrible situation for the kids.

‘They come home from school and have nothing to do in the evenings.

‘They miss their brother and all their belongings.

‘The damage caused could take weeks to fix because a lot of things will need replacing including the floorboards.’

Joanne said she appreciated the MoD putting them in a hotel but said it should not have taken two weeks for the work to begin.

A spokeswoman from the MoD said: ‘We are very sorry that this problem has occurred and has taken longer to resolve than we would wish.

‘We expect it to be fully resolved today, including the necessary cosmetic repairs.

‘It should be noted that though the situation is clearly far from ideal, the family has not been without hot water or heating.

‘The water pressure however was affected and due to this alternative accommodation in a hotel was provided.’