A household have been dwelling in rented lodging for greater than a 12 months after their house was destroyed by a flood believed to have triggered £250,000 of harm whereas they had been on vacation in Florida.
The Underwoods returned to their Bristol house after an 18-hour journey to search out water nonetheless working down the steps after a pipe burst.
The household had been pressured to depart however are hoping to maneuver again to the property subsequent March – greater than a 12 months after the ordeal.
Their house has been reworked, with their whole prices coming to £250,000, they claimed, which is being paid for by their insurers.
Mother Rebecca, a major faculty trainer, mentioned: ‘I can not let you know how relieved we had been when the insurance coverage man got here spherical and mentioned that they might pay out.’
The family-of-four made it house at 9am on December 28 final 12 months after a break within the US.
The ceiling within the Underwood’s important rest room had totally collapsed after a pipe burst whereas they had been away in Florida
The Underwood’s house throughout restoration work after a burst pipe apparently inflicting £250k value of harm
Rebecca Underwood and husband Mark have been dwelling in rented lodging for greater than a 12 months after the flood
Mould rising contained in the Underwood’s house after a burst pipe flooded their house
The Underwood’s house throughout restoration work after a burst pipe inflicting intensive injury
But their reduction shortly turned to dismay after they uncovered the stunning scene inside.
Rebecca, husband to Mark, 46, and mom to eighteen-year-old Ruby and stepson Josh, 17, mentioned: ‘I opened door and instantly noticed water coming down the steps.
‘I might see each carpet was soaking and the steps had been like a waterfall.
‘I used to be actually screaming, on the high of my lungs, my youngsters had been having to calm me and Mark down, our house had turn into an empty shell.’
The complete household tried to salvage what they may. Luckily a lot of the household’s sentimental possessions had been spared as they had been being saved in plastic storage bins.
Rebecca and husband Mark, who works in property, stayed up for one more 24 hours whereas they handled the insurance coverage and sorted out locations for his or her youngsters to remain.
The injury was appreciable, with the home having to be ‘stripped again to reveal breeze blocks’.
The Underwood’s gorgeous Bristol house is pictured from the skin
The ceiling within the Underwood’s important rest room had totally collapsed after the ordeal
The utility room contained in the Underwood’s house following injury brought on by a burst pipe
Ruby, 18, Josh, 17, Mark and Rebecca whereas on vacation in Florida
The Underwood’s kitchen whereas is was being renovated after intensive injury brought on by a burst pipe
The kitchen within the Underwood’s house earlier than the injury occured brought on by the flood
A bed room within the Underwood’s house earlier than the injury occured brought on by the flood
Another bed room within the Underwood’s house earlier than the injury occured
The house was clear and sensible earlier than the flood occurred and triggered intensive injury
The household’s home throughout restoration work after a burst pipe triggered intensive injury
The household’s house was partially destroyed in the course of the unlucky flood
Every electrical merchandise needed to be thrown away, all mild fittings had to get replaced, each room needed to be replastered and the ceiling in the principle rest room had totally collapsed.
‘The drying course of was enormous – water was spraying down from the ceiling,’ Rebecca mentioned.
To make issues worse, two months after the incident, thick mould grew everywhere in the home due to the damp.
But a 12 months on the household are lastly wanting ahead to transferring again in firstly of March 2024.
The property has been renovated and the entire invoice got here to £250,000, Rebecca mentioned.
She is now urging others to verify they’re insured. Rebecca mentioned: ‘Almost each one who I’ve advised all know another person who this has occurred to.
‘It’s not uncommon, we implore everybody to ensure you’re insured and please flip off your water!
‘No one was harm, nevertheless it’s nonetheless been very traumatic to lose your personal house.’