A COUPLE’S home has been left in ruins after vibrations from a neighbouring construction site caused a terrifying Jurassic Park-style shake.
The Winstons, who moved into their dream home 10 years ago, say their lives have been turned upside down by the construction of a new development by Miller Homes right next door.
5
5
Lynda and Stephen Winston claim their once peaceful home in North Yorkshire now shakes every time the builders get to work, leaving them with 149 cracks across their walls and a £20,000 repair bill.
The couple claims the building work has caused significant damage to their ceilings, ceramic floor tiles, and both internal and external brickwork.
To make matters worse, the dust from the site has rendered their garden unusable for four years.
The damage was reportedly caused by vibrations from a huge hole being dug for a stormwater tank.
Lynda told The Telegraph: “My cups of tea have the Jurassic Park effect.
“The pictures rattle on the walls. It’s as if the house is shaking from the inside out.”
Now, the Winstons are facing a whopping £20,910 bill to fix the damage – which involves replacing plasterboard, filling in hairline cracks, and redecorating every room.
But the developers have offered the couple just £1,000 in compensation, something Lynda says is a slap in the face.
She said: “My husband has a life-limiting heart condition and cancer, and the stress from this development contributed to him having a mini-stroke last year.
“They won’t even pay for scaffolding to fix the gable end of our house.”
The Winstons say the damage began when Miller Homes excavated a pit for a stormwater tank.
Lynda claims the vibrations started almost immediately and continued long after the excavation was finished.
She said: “It’s gone on for months.
“They promised vibration meters but they didn’t deliver.
“It’s as if they’re just brushing us off.”
The couple believes Miller Homes should have known that digging close to their property line would cause serious damage, and they say the developer should be footing the bill for repairs.
However, Miller Homes insists that the damage isn’t structural, with surveys showing only hairline cracks and “cosmetic issues.”
The company has tried to offer compensation, but the Winstons aren’t satisfied.
Lynda added: “I’ve never lived in a house in this state of disrepair. All the work we did when we first moved in has been wrecked.
“This isn’t cosmetic – it’s our home. It’s ruined.”
Neighbours aren’t faring much better.
Will Blue, who lives next door, claims vibrations from the site have also caused cracks in his home, a damaged ceiling, and several doors that no longer shut.
After spending £5,000 fixing the damage, he says Miller Homes refused to pay for the repairs.
Will said: “It’s the powerlessness of it.
“I just want to have a conversation with Miller Homes and sort this out. They’ve completely ignored us.”
A spokesperson for Miller Homes has said: “We regret that work at our Langley Gate development impacted a small number of neighbours.
“We regret that work at our Langley Gate development impacted a small number of neighbours and we have tried to work constructively with them on resolving the issues.
“A series of surveys, conducted by independent surveyors, have identified hairline cracks and minor cosmetic defects.
“We have offered payment to cover the work required and are committed to rectifying these issues through continued dialogue with the affected parties.”
But for the Winstons, the damage to their home is more than just cosmetic – it’s a painful reminder of the nightmare they’ve been living for the last few years.
Lynda said: “If it comes to it, I’ll stand outside Langley Gate with a placard, I’m not letting them get away with this.”
Meanwhile, they’re not the only couple suffering the effects of a nightmare neighbour.
Disgusted locals are demanding action after a “filthy” neighbour turned their home into a makeshift tip with tonnes of rubbish dumped on the driveway.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
This comes as an electrician fears he’ll never be able to sell his home after his neighbour dug a 10ft hole in his garden next door.
He’s not the only one, another grandad claims he would struggle to sell his property because a bumbling neighbour ruined his garden.
What are your rights?
If you have tried and failed to resolve your neighbourly issue by talking to your neighbour you can approach your local council.
Your local council can step in if the dispute involves any activity that is a nuisance or could damage your health.
For a range of issues, you could use a mediation service if raising the issue informally does not work, according to Gov.uk.
To complain all you need to do is contact your local council, many have a specialist team to deal with disputes of this nature.
One of the most common neighbourly issues is excessive or unreasonable noise levels.
In the event of an emergency, such as if your neighbour physically attacks you, always call 999.
As a last resort you can take legal action through the courts.
5
5
5
