A mother and her two young kids have been left living with “devastating” damage after rainwater gushed through the ceiling of their Barnsbury flat last week.

Islington Gazette: An L&Q flat in Offord Road had a massive leak. Picture: Lucas CumiskeyAn L&Q flat in Offord Road had a massive leak. Picture: Lucas Cumiskey (Image: Archant)

Molly Pite, of Epping Place, Offord Road, returned from her family holiday last week to find water gushing down from the light sockets in her living room.

Molly, a nursery worker, who has lived in the L&Q housing association flat since 2011, said chiefs sent sub-contractors to her home on Wednesday. They cut a hole in her ceiling, but it has only made the leak worse.

“It has been devastating because we have children and this is not a nice environment for them to live in,” said Molly.

“It was pretty pointless cutting the hole. Then on the Thursday and Friday after they did it the rain was really bad and the water flowed down and soaked through the floor to the flat below. We can’t live in these conditions.”

Mollie’s two sons, Lukas and Albie, who are eight and four, have been sleeping at their grandmother’s house because the “the ceiling could fall in”.

L&Q said it would put them in temporary accommodation last week, but has only offered hotels since, which Mollie says are unsuitable.

She added: “There is no cooking facilities in a hotel an I can’t afford to eat out every day for six weeks with my children.”

Her kids go back to school in three weeks and she believes the inconvenient repair work will last until mid-September.

An L&Q spokesperson said: “We are very sorry for any distress and inconvenience caused by the delays in completing these repairs.

“We have erected a scaffold today and our roofing contractor will be commencing work shortly.

“We will also repair any damage caused by the leak. We will be in touch with Ms Pite to discuss compensation once the repairs are completed.”

They added: “We did offer Ms Pite hotel accommodation, which unfortunately was considered unsuitable; we are currently searching for a serviced apartment as a matter of urgency as this will better meet her needs.”