A son lost all of his possessions including his dad's ashes when his flat was cleared out by mistake.
Warren Dodds returned from a short break away to find that his property in Benwell in Newcastle had been stripped bare. The 31-year-old said all his belongings, including his flooring, had been removed.
Warren, who lost his dad Peter Dodds, 43, nine years ago, said that his most sentimental items had also disappeared. They included his father's ashes, which were in a pendant, as well as his watch and photographs of them together.
Read more: 'It's like being mugged' - Jesmond man slams energy company after they send him £4k electricity bill
He said he contacted Bernicia Homes, which manages the property, and was told that their contractors Orbis Protect had emptied the wrong flat. The housing company said all of his belongings had been destroyed.
Warren, who is currently living his mum Jacqui Dodds, 49, in Seaham, County Durham, said: "I walked in the door and I realised my carpets weren't down. I rushed in there to have a look and everything was gone, it was stripped bare.
"I was really confused, I was just in shocked really. I was thinking have I been burgled - but they had taken my carpets, my floor and my food.
"My dad's ashes were in a little pendant. I had photos of us together from when I was a kid - photos of us on holiday. There was also his watch, which he'd left me. Everything which I wanted to keep, after he passed away, had all been chucked out.
"I was just really angry and frustrated. I wasn't really getting many answers as to where my stuff was.
"A couple of hours later it was confirmed that it had been destroyed. I was devastated. I was hoping they would be in storage somewhere."
Warren said he had been renting the one-bedroom flat at St James' Lodge, on Atkinson Road, for just under a year. He said he went to Sandy Bay near Ashington in Northumberland for a few days with his mum and returned on September 5 to find his home empty.
Warren said he complained to Bernicia and gave him a payment of around £700 so he could purchase essentials such as clothing. He has had to move back in with his mum until he can get back on his feet again.
The trained barber, who has now been offered a settlement figure by Bernicia, said: "She's having to support me and put a roof over my head.
"It's been horrible, I'm walking around in old clothing. I haven't got any decent shoes or a decent coat. I have had to buy really cheap stuff.
"I had nothing when I moved into the flat except personal stuff and I struggled to get everything that I had.
"I had just got all the floors put down. I put down carpet, vinyl in the kitchen and bathroom and a wood floor in my living room. They'd been ripped out."
Bernicia Homes has apologised to Warren. They said they appreciate the "devastating impact" which the error has had upon him. A spokesperson said: "We have spoken again with Mr Dodds and his family and they have agreed to accept an offer we brokered with contractors Orbis Protect to compensate him."
Bernicia Homes said they investigated and determined that whilst accurate information had been given to Orbis Protect about the property they had been asked to clear, they had accessed and cleared the wrong flat.
The spokesperson said: "Mr Dodds does not wish to return to his property and we have agreed to re-house him, as a priority, as soon as a suitable home becomes available in his area of choice. We have talked with him about his options, including the properties that are becoming available, and hope to have helped him move into a new home during January.
"To support Mr Dodds, Bernicia has made two interim payments to help him with immediate living expenses. We have also made further offers of support and assistance should he require it – including additional financial assistance and to furnish alternative accommodation if this was necessary before the matter was finally resolved.
"We again express our sincere apologies to Mr Dodds for the situation that he has found himself in through no fault of his own."
A spokesperson for Orbis Protect said: "We are really sorry for the error made clearing this property and offer our sincere apologies to Mr Dodds. We’ve established this was the result of human error and have already put in place additional checks to prevent this situation happening again.
"We recognise our role in this mistake and have worked with Bernicia Homes to reach an agreement with the tenant to try to make amends. We’ve been operating for more than four decades and work on hundreds of thousands of properties every year. It is extremely rare for things to go wrong but, if they do, we take responsibility for what happened and put things right."
Read more:
Hexham MP Guy Opperman claims £28,000 in travel expenses - the most of any Tory MP
"It was disgusting" - North Tyneside woman finds metal hook inside her Nando's chicken wrap
Mum has just days to find new North East home after escaping war-torn Ukraine with her two children
TUI holidaymakers slam 'worst' five-star Cape Verde trip after being struck down with sickness bug
Widow 'furious' after Hilton cancels Christmas lunch - so they can fit vehicle charging points
