Sick dad and son, 11, forced to flee crumbling home and sleep in campervan

06 February 2024 , 11:30

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John Bundy and his young son have had to move into a camper van to escape their home which is 'falling to bits' (Image: Lennox Herald)

A dad in chronic pain who relies on a feeding machine has been forced to sleep in a campervan due to his home "falling to bits" around him.

John Bundy and 11-year-old son had to leave their home in Balloch, West Dunbartonshire, as it is in an uninhabitable state of disrepair. The family say they are being woken by loud creaks louder than a subway train, leaving the youngster too frightened to sleep.

Mr Bundy currently lives with "excruciating" pain following gastric surgery and uses a machine as well as breathing apparatus. He said the house was in such bad condition, it was letting wind from outside in and that he can almost feel it swaying during stormy weather.

"There are some major issues with these houses now and it feels like they are literally starting to fall to bits," the former pub landlord told local press. "They are letting more wind through them than ever and it's so expensive to heat them."

"It feels like the whole building moves when it's windy. The house doesn't feel safe and I've had to take my 11-year-old son out every time it gets windy as the noise in house is so loud it scares him."

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Mr Bundy says he has started recording the creaks as evidence, with the noises coming in at over 100 decibels - louder than a hairdryer. The local council, which owns the home, says it is aware of noises made in the homes and has previously tried to fix it.

Dad John Bundy says he can feel his house 'moving' in the wind and is plagued by loud creaking noises (Lennox Herald)

The fed-up dad previously complained about the state of his home last year after discovering some of the wooden cladding was fitted incorrectly. He told the Daily Record: "It's like putting a blade of grass between your fingers."

"When the wind blows, it vibrates. I recorded the wind noise at over 100 decibels. The framing at the back of the cladding is insecure, there are holes everywhere. The contractors have been going round trying to fill these massive holes with tubes of silicone."

Mr Bundy has suffered from chronic pain following Nissen fundoplication surgery several years ago to treat severe heartburn. The operation involves wrapping all or part of the top part of the stomach around the lower part of the oesophagus to prevent stomach acid from backing up into it.

He had surgery for a second time around a year later after suffering problems with it, which was believed to be caused by scarring. A spokeswoman for West Dunbartonshire Council said: "We are sorry to hear Mr Bundy is unhappy.

"We are aware of concerns about increased wind noise and have taken action to try and resolve this previously, including reinforcing cladding at his home. We are continuing to liaise with Mr Bundy and would always encourage tenants to contact the Council in the first instance so we can investigate and carry out necessary works to remedy any issues arising."

Susie Beever