A Mitcham couple say their life is being made a misery because waste water is repeatedly leaking into their flat.

One of the leaks resulted in “a pond” in the middle of the living room and on another occasion there was “a waterfall” outside the front door of the home of Lesley Sutcliffe and Lee Hollywood at Gladstone House, on Sadler Close.

Now they have criticised Circle Housing Association for not doing enough to stop the leaks which, they say, have happened repeatedly over the last two years.

Lesley’s mother Colleen Sutcliffe, who contacted the Wimbledon Guardian, said: “Neither one of them now wants to go home after work - to a place that should be their solace and a place of calm and relaxation - because they never know what they will find.

She added: “This is isn’t rainwater. It’s someone’s bath water. It’s an absolute nightmare. I have her on the phone to me crying some nights.”

Colleen said the situation was made worse because Lee, 48, suffers from stress-induced night terrors while Lesley, 30, suffers from a range of illnesses, including Fibromyalgia which causes pain all over the body.

The family say Circle kept making the excuse that it couldn’t fix the leak because it couldn’t gain access to the flat above – despite it being another Circle property.

After a year-long battle for compensation, the couple say they received £1,300 to cover costs, including that of replacing flooring in the lounge and hallway and decorating costs - but the leaks started again soon after they had redecorated.

The family says they know of at least three other neighbours who have suffered similar problems.

A spokeswoman for Circle Housing said work would begin today (November 1) to repair the leak. She said: “We’re sincerely sorry for the disruption caused to residents at Gladstone House due to an intermittent water leak.

“A joint investigation between our contractor and the estate’s technical officer will be carried out to identify and attempt to rectify the leak.”