FOR one Huddersfield council tenant a dream offer has turned into a nightmare!

It seemed a good idea at the time when Simon Fletcher was told his council flat would be improved, but the work turned into a fiasco, forcing him at one stage to move into a hotel for three days.

During a nightmare lasting a month, Simon endured floods, power cuts and had his carpets and kitchen appliances damaged.

Now he is seeking compensation for the experience he suffered at his home at Shepherds Grove, Deighton.

Bungling workmen:

* Drilled through a main water supply - causing a flood an inch deep.

* Tripped the main electricity fuse, causing him to lose valuable computer work.

* Left his cooker, washing machine, carpet and mail outside in the rain.

* Had to refit the bathroom sink twice when it failed inspections.

Angry Simon, 40, said: "Overall, I wish the work had never been carried out. I have lost at least a week's income through having to leave my business to sort things out."

The problems began on the very first day when workmen failed to turn up.

Simon said he had trusted them to do the work in a responsible manner until they moved some of his possessions out of the way.

He explained: "I discovered that my cooker and washing machine had been left outside in the rain and were uncovered.

"The hallway carpet had not been properly covered and was very deeply stained.

"And after the workmen left I discovered three items of mail on the floor that were soaked through and trodden on."

He arrived home on what should have been the last day to discover the flood in the ground-floor flat where he has lived four years.

Simon said water had run out from the pipe for 30 minutes because workmen couldn't find the stop tap - despite it being clearly marked on the kitchen plan.

Contractors paid for him to stay in a hotel for three days because of the damage.

Simon said: "Every time the workers did any work I was left with two to three hours' cleaning up.

"Carpets and floors weren't covered. Appliances in the kitchen weren't covered. I had to strip and clean my cooker three times to remove brick dust from inside it."

The work was carried out as part of the Decent Homes programme, a massive improvement scheme involving more than 20,000 homes in Kirklees.

Simon accused contractors Enterprise, of mishandling his compensation claim. Instead of it taking the target 28 days, he doubted a settlement would be reached this year.

A spokeswoman for Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing said: "We are sorry that Mr Fletcher is unhappy with the work done to improve his home and have sincerely apologised to him for the inconvenience he has suffered.

"The problems he has experienced are unacceptable and we are working with our construction partners to make sure such events remain a rare occurrence."