A tenant who was flooded out of her Watford home two weeks ago said she is despairing at the housing association’s solution to move her to Stevenage.

Karla Middleton, who works in Watford, and said it would be impossible given journey times and financial constraints to commute back and forth from Stevenage.

The 27-year-old barmaid’s Attenborough Court flat was badly flooded for the fourth time in three years during a thunderstorm on the night of Thursday, July 16. She was told the damage was so extensive she couldn’t live there until it had been repaired.

But Origin Housing have only been able to find alternative accommodation for her in Stevenage.

Karla said: “It’s the fourth time this has happened in three years and they have come to a decision.

“I’m currently staying in a hotel because the fire brigade told me it wasn’t safe for me to live there.

“All my stuff has been damaged and the property management hasn’t said sorry or given money back.

“I’m a single person, living by myself and I work part time.

“Origin, the housing association, have now offered me a place to move to but it’s in Stevenage.

“I don’t know anyone there.

“I’ve only just rebuilt a new life in Watford having moved from Luton and I work in Watford.

“I’m worried about where I’m going to next.

“The water when it flooded was right below my knee.

“At 12am that night I knew there was going to be a storm so I knew what was going to happen – it started coming through the front door.”

Karla said Origin were trying to find private accommodation for her in Watford, but she was not hopeful it would materialise.

Other residents in the block have complained that despite many attempts to contact property management company Red Rock over the years and stop the repeat incidents of flood damage, nothing had been done.

Watford Borough Councillor Peter Taylor said a meeting was set up in March 2014 between residents, Red Rock and Origin where flooding concerns were raised.

He said: "Housing Karla in Stevenage is clearly not a sensible long-term solution to this problem. It is vital that her flat is sorted out but also that this flooding problem is resolved once and for all.
 
"One of the difficulties has been the number of different people involved - the housing association, property management company, insurers and Hertfordshire Highways. I have organised a further meeting next month and it is crucial that a permanent solution is agreed. More drainage capacity must be provided so that residents do not have to keep enduring such massive inconvenience."

The Watford Observer approached property management company Red Rock for comment, but was directed to Origin Housing.

Origin Housing had not responded to the Observer’s request for comment by the time of going to press.