A man has had to sleep in his living room on a blow-up bed for more than a decade due to unfixed leaks in his flat.

Joe Young, a Hackney Council tenant at Pitcairn House, first experienced water coming through his bedroom ceiling around 15 years ago.

Since then, the leak has continued to return, effectively making the room uninhabitable.

This has left Joe with no option but to sleep on a blow-up mattress in his living room, or stay at friends’ homes overnight.

The blow up bed in Joe's living room - his bedroom has suffered from leaks for 15 yearsThe blow up bed in Joe's living room - his bedroom has suffered from leaks for 15 years (Image: Newsquest)

Four years ago, a new leak also destroyed the council tenant’s bathroom. To this day, black mould can be seen on the ceiling, which is partially propped up with a plastic mop.

Joe, who first moved into the nine-storey block 25 years ago, said that he has never missed a rent payment despite the unresolved issues, as he feared that it would mean he would lose his home.

Joe has to use a mop to partially prop up his bathroom ceilingJoe has to use a mop to partially prop up his bathroom ceiling (Image: Newsquest)

He told Hackney Gazette: “I’ve had people come round year after year after year.

“I’m not one to complain and I keep myself to myself, but this is no way of living. I can’t even put the flat up for exchange at the minute.

“The leak keeps on coming back in the same place. They move me out, paper over the cracks, move me in and then you pay the rent and it’s your problem.

“I’m so frustrated. I’d do it myself, but why paint when it’s going to come through again?”

Joe said his bedroom has suffered from leaks for 15 yearsJoe said his bedroom has suffered from leaks for 15 years (Image: Newsquest)

Hackney Council said Joe was not allowing access to his home for repairs to be carried out, something he strongly denies.

Joe admits that the council had alleged that he had been obstructive to contractors previously sent to look at some of the issues.

But he claimed that the council was using this as an excuse to now not make any progress with the repairs at all.

A Hackney spokesperson acknowledged that work needs to be carried out in the flat, but said that the authority takes “the safety of all of our staff extremely seriously” and cannot put officers “in a position where they are in danger of being threatened, abused or attacked”.

They added: “We will continue to attempt to work with Mr Young to get the work completed while also protecting our staff."