A family who say they have lived with a leaking roof for nine months are being taken to court by a housing association over their refusal to pay service charges.

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The Basit family photographed in July alongside ongoing repairs problems on their estate

Waqar Basit, of Gap Road in Wimbledon, said he has repeatedly complained to Circle Housing Merton Priory (CHMP) about repairs and maintenance issues, including water leaks, dirty stairwells and 24/7 corridor lighting, which are all services leaseholders pay for.

Council tenants share the price of communal repairs through housing benefit, at the cost of taxpayers.

January: Merton's biggest social housing provider put on regulatory 'watch list' over poor repairs and maintenance service

April: Circle Housing Merton Priory admits contractors overcharged for repairs and launches wider investigation

August: "We are absolutely astonished": Staff member claims fraud investigation at Circle Housing Merton Priory was fudged

The leaking roof forced him and his pregnant wife to set their alarm for 2.30am every morning to change the bucket, Mr Basit said.

Mr Basit was offered £557 compensation for damage caused by the work, but were only refunded £237 after CHMP said they hadn't received a claim form.

Mr Basit claims another leak on a communal lawn outside their block is now older than his 18-month-old son, Aidan Ahmad.

A further leak on a communal stairway, described as being "like a waterfall", was fixed after five weeks but came back within three weeks, and took CHMP a further month to get fixed, the family claim.

CHMP is now taking Mr Basit to court over a £1,700 service charge bill he has refused to pay. It said the complaints were being dealt with through 'robust and stringent internal channels.'

Mr Basit, 34, a compliance manager who works in the City, said: "Financially and mentally we have been affected, especially waking up in the middle of the night to change the bucket.

"We felt stressed and helpless when we were forced to bring our two-day-old son to a house that had been painted just a week ago, when every doctor advises against exposure to paint fumes but CHMP left us with no choice.

"I must have spoken to more than 30 staff at CHMP trying to get the leak fixed because their turnover of staff is so high."

Mr Basit, who intends to represent himself if a judge decides to schedule a hearing for CHMP's complaint, served his defence papers to Croydon County Court in September.

Mr Basit, who intends to represent himself if a judge decides to schedule a hearing for CHMP's complaint, served his defence papers to Croydon County Court in September.

On Tuesday, September 1, a contractor appeared unexpectedly to repair outstanding damge to his walls from the roof leak. But the builder was two hours late for the appointment, and couldn't be let in.

Another appointment has now been scheduled for October 13, more than a year after the first appointment was scheduled.

Mr Basit said: "I really wanted to sit down with Circle to resolve my complaints but I just don’t trust them to do the right thing anymore."

A spokesman from CHMP said: "As this is a legal matter we are unable to comment on the specifics of the case regarding service charges.

"Mr Basit’s complaints about the repairs service are being dealt with through our robust and stringent internal channels and we will contact him personally with our findings once all of the issues he has raised have been thoroughly investigated. 

"Our priority is to make sure that residents’ homes and outside spaces are in the best possible condition. We have implemented a wide range of improvements to our repairs and maintenance service and we are confident that customers are receiving the good service they deserve."