Long-delayed and desperately needed repairs to a Silva Homes tenant’s flat were carried out within days after he brought his story to Bracknell News.

Martin Lewis waited nearly six months for a hole in his bathroom ceiling to be repaired after an apparent leak in his roof.

Mr Lewis, 38, of Naseby, Birch Hill, began suffering leaks in his bathroom in January. Leaks appeared in January, April and September during periods of heavy rain – leaving a hole in his bathroom ceiling in April.

Yet, despite contacting Silva Homes several times, the hole was left for months and repair workers failed to identify the cause of the leaks, according to his friend.

READ MORE: Silva Homes tenants complain of repair delays

Gareth Morley has helped Mr Lewis – who has learning disabilities – seek help from Silva Homes and came to Bracknell News with Mr Lewis’s consent.

Bracknell News contacted Silva Homes about the story on Thursday, September 28 – and was told the following Monday, October 2, that the housing association was “working as quickly as possible” to fix the leak.

In the days in between, Mr Morley says Silva Homes workers contacted Mr Lewis out of the blue to carry out repairs.

Mr Morley said: “The last time we saw anyone was around April. We’d been phoning them every day since that to try and get all of the repairs done.

“After you contacted them, they contacted us the following day, and now they’ve been contacting us every day to come out and do the works.”

He added: “Practically all of the work has been done now. They’ve sealed the ceiling off now so it doesn’t have a hole in it. And they’ve said they’ll come and fix the guttering and look at the roof tiles to stop the leak.”

READ MORE: Man ‘has to shower in the yard’ amid dispute with Silva Homes

Mr Morely added that the long wait for repairs had put a strain on Mr Lewis’s health.

He said: “It’s affected his mental health quite strongly, but he’s taking it in his stride. I’m telling him we’ll get there in the end.”

He added: “He’s happy that the works are finally being carried out. All this could have been avoided if they’d carried it out in the first place.”

Silva Homes’ statement to Bracknell News on October 2 said: “We’re working as quickly as possible to resolve the leak in the property and are sorry for the inconvenience and upset this has caused.

“We’ve carried out a full inspection of the property, and have been working with an external contractor to carry out repairs. Guttering is being replaced this week to fully resolve the issue.”