A TENANT says he was “fobbed off” by Taunton Deane Council after his kitchen flooded for the fourth time in a year.

Paul Smith, 56, claims a pipe at his rented flat in Upper Holway Road, Taunton, has caused him endless problems since moving in.

He said the latest leak meant severe disruption for him and his 82-year-old mother, Margaret, and he is calling on the council to fix the problem once and for all.

Mr Smith said: “I’m disgusted.

Why should we have to live like this?

“All I want is for the council to be honest, tell us what’s going on and stop fobbing us off.

“It’s shocking. I’ve had to leave work to come home and mop out the kitchen, and this is worse than last time.”

The main problem is with the pipe at the back of the washing machine which keeps coming loose, claims Mr Smith.

A council spokesman said: “The council can’t comment on individual cases due to rules concerning privacy, but when a tenant advises of leaking pipe work the council will investigate to determine whether there’s an underlying problem or the fault is due to a plumbing installation carried out by others, for example.

“The council will continue to work with the tenant until the issue is resolved.

“All tenants are given contact details so they can let us know of problems, and these can also be found on the calendars which go out to all tenants.”