A SINGLE mum has criticised the way new houses have been built at The Oval because of the stress she has faced with issues at her new build home.

Kelly Jackson, 25, moved into a home in Vortex Way in Newton Farm last December and rents it from Herefordshire Housing, a not-for-profit group which provides affordable homes for county residents.

But she said she has had numerous problems with the house, which have taken months to fix.

Miss Jackson, who is a part-time hairdresser, said: "I am more than happy I have a roof over my head and it has a garden- that's great. But all the trouble I have been having has caused me so much stress."

She said the garden was on a slope when she moved in and wooden slats, which could easily break, were put around the edge of the grass.

A crack which appeared in her upstairs bedroom window took four months to fix, she said, and there was not enough vinyl covering to cover the kitchen floor.

Miss Jackson, who is mum to two-year-old son, Reuben, said the finish is substandard with paint left around the house on light fittings and uneven ceiling edges.

She said: "They get more than enough rent for this place. Why do I have to pay for all these problems? I have got to work and earn this money.

"They are being put up too quickly. You wouldn't get away with it if you were buying it."

The Herefordshire Housing Oval Regeneration has involved demolition, new build and refurbishment.

Spokesman for the group, Samantha Baker, said: "We have been working closely with Miss Jackson to try to overcome the problems she has faced at her new build property and we have appointed a designated member of the team to help her through this process.

"It is common for new build properties to have minor defects, this is due to the component parts within properties settling down, e.g. woodwork, plaster work.

"At The Oval, a few minor issues have arisen but we have successfully worked with tenants and our onsite contractor, Keepmoat, to resolve these quickly and to their satisfaction."

Since April, 50 properties at The Oval project have become homes to tenants, with one complaint. Ms Baker said through satisfaction surveys, 90 percent of these tenants have been happy with their new homes.