A couple, who say they can no longer use the garden of their dream home after a huge sewage leak meant they needed blood tests from their GP, are thinking of selling up. 

Nursery teacher Natalie Brown, 25, and her fiancé Alan Jack, 31, a firefighter, bought their new build home in Gourock, Inverclyde, two years ago but tests have now proved the garden has been flooded with sewage. 

The couple say house builders Merchant Homes have done nothing to fix the problem at the house which was bought through the government’s Help to Buy scheme and cost around £150,000. 

Natalie Brown, 25, (pictured) in her flooded garden. She says she has to wear welly boots to put out the washing and can no longer let the dog on the grass because he keeps getting ill

Natalie Brown, 25, (pictured) in her flooded garden. She says she has to wear welly boots to put out the washing and can no longer let the dog on the grass because he keeps getting ill

They hoped the garden would be perfect for their 19-month-old German Shepherd dog, Bear, to play in – but claim it has made him ill.  

Natalie said: ‘When you step on the mud and disturb it you can smell a foul smell.

‘We knew we would need to give them time to fix it but it has been almost two years.

‘One of the first questions I asked was about drainage and I was told there would be a drain running through the estate, but apparently it doesn’t run the whole length.

‘Our garden is constantly flooded. Even after two weeks of sunshine we still had puddles in the garden.

Natalie Brown's pink wellies sink into her flooded garden which she says she can no longer use. Tests carried out proved it has been flooded with sewage

Natalie Brown's pink wellies sink into her flooded garden which she says she can no longer use. Tests carried out proved it has been flooded with sewage

Natalie Brown’s pink wellies sink into her flooded garden which she says she can no longer use. Tests carried out proved it has been flooded with sewage

‘I need to wear welly boots to put out the washing and we can’t let the dog on the grass because he keeps getting ill.

‘We expected to have a few small issues with the property but we didn’t expect to still be trying to get them fixed two years later.

‘We saved up for this property and it was meant to be our forever family home.

‘If it isn’t fixed, we might need to consider moving.’

The couple spent nearly £2,000 on extending their patio so they could enjoy their outside area, and also put turf down but they are still left with a sodden garden.

Natalie’s parents’ dog, Cooper, also became ill after staying at the house.

Natalie said: ‘Obviously we can’t prove it was the garden that made him ill unless we spent another fortune and send a sample away to the vets but it’s a coincidence that anytime he went in the garden we were up all night with him vomiting and having a really upset tummy.

‘And since not letting him out there he hasn’t been ill since.

‘My mum’s dog was ill anytime we had him and he went out there too. He drank from a puddle off it once and was really unwell for a few days.’

Despite the problems with the garden, the couple is looking forward to welcoming another puppy in October – and are hoping the drains will be fixed by then.

Natalie added: ‘The water still doesn’t have anywhere to go, it just sits there.

‘It’s a poor effort by them and it should have been fixed two years ago.’

A letter sent to them by Inverclyde Council on August 8 read: ‘It has been brought to the attention of this service that the rear garden of the above property is subject to sewage ingress and has been for some considerable time.

‘This service sampled the material and confirmed it is indeed sewage.

‘The location of the issue is not concurrent with the drainage plan of the development and as such this service will have to trace a number of drains to ascertain where the leak is.’

Home sweet home: The exterior of the couple's home (pictured). The house was bought through the government's Help to Buy scheme and cost around £150,000

Home sweet home: The exterior of the couple's home (pictured). The house was bought through the government's Help to Buy scheme and cost around £150,000

Home sweet home: The exterior of the couple’s home (pictured). The house was bought through the government’s Help to Buy scheme and cost around £150,000

Natalie added: ‘We have been in contact with the company and went through the proper channels but we don’t seem to be getting anywhere.

‘They installed a line of drainage at the bottom of the garden but it hasn’t helped and the grass is still waterlogged.

‘It is frustrating and we feel like we are being passed about and fobbed off.

‘Inside the house is lovely and any issues we have had have been fixed quickly.

‘They would be getting a brilliant report from us if it wasn’t for the garden.

‘We just want to enjoy the space in the summer and let the dog out, and at the moment we can’t.’

A spokesman for Merchant Homes said: ‘We are aware of the concerns raised by Mr Jack and had our construction director and landscaper visiting the property to investigate.

‘Following the visit, we will implement the further drainage works that are needed to remedy the situation.’

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