A mother from the West Midlands has issued a desperate plea for assistance after being left with an unfinished and 'uninhabitable' home extension for her disabled son for more than two years.
A Vital Project Left Incomplete
Shelley Rowles, 37, from the Hagley area, secured a Disabilities Facility Grant (DFG) to build a crucial multi-purpose space for her 16-year-old son, who has a moderate to severe learning disability. The planned extension was to include a downstairs bedroom, a wet room, and a desk area, creating a safe and supportive environment for his complex needs.
Construction began in September 2023, but the family's hopes were dashed when, just before Christmas that year, builders allegedly left the site. The work was incomplete, leaving the new rooms unusable. Two years on, the extension remains unfinished and is reportedly 'riddled with damp and mould'.
Impact on Health and Wellbeing
"Please can someone help me and get my son the adaptations he deserves," Ms Rowles appealed. She described the profound impact the situation has had on her family's health. "The smell of damp we have endured over this period has been unbearable," she explained.
The problem became so severe that for a full year, she was forced to wash and dry the family's clothing at her mother's house, transporting them home in bin liners to prevent them from absorbing the damp smell in their own home. Ms Rowles, who along with her three children has disabilities, added: "We have just been left and I really don’t know what to do."
She emphasised that the current state of the build does not meet her son's assessed needs, stating: "My son is 16-years-old with the mental capability of that of a small child due to his complex needs. This [build] has impacted my health conditions and made me extremely poorly."
Frustration with Authorities and Delays
The mother has raised concerns with multiple authorities, including Redditch and Bromsgrove District Council, Bromsgrove District Housing Trust (BDHT), and Worcestershire County Council. An independent inspection of the extension has deemed it not fit for purpose.
Despite a multi-agency meeting in June 2025 which agreed on further inspections and a reassessment of housing needs, Ms Rowles claims promised assessments did not happen. This forced the family to commission their own independent report at personal expense.
She also reported that official reports from the councils have been delayed, redacted, or not shared in full. Having exhausted multiple complaints processes, delays in receiving a formal response from Worcestershire County Council are preventing her from escalating the case to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.
Official Responses
A spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council said: “We are liaising with Ms Rowles regarding her current concerns.”
John Whitwam, Director of Housing and Communities at Bromsgrove District Housing Trust, acknowledged the trust was aware of the issues. "We appreciate how difficult this situation has been for her and her family," he said. "Although the project is managed by external partners, we have stayed in contact with them and with Ms Rowles to understand the situation and offer support where appropriate. We understand an action plan is in place to address the outstanding issues, and we hope this will enable a timely resolution for our customer."
The family continues to wait for a resolution, living with the consequences of a project meant to provide essential support for their disabled son.
