A teenage tenant has had to tolerate a large hole in her kitchen ceiling for seven months.

Malika Cader, 19, said the hole started because of a small leak, but had got worse, and pleas to Ascham Homes to get it fixed had fallen on deaf ears.

She said: “They keep sending people to look at it, but nothing has been done. They keep saying they will send someone to survey it and either they don’t turn u, or if they do, they don’t do much.

“It is getting worse and worse. The leak is constantly dripping in my kitchen and the floor keeps getting flooded. One of the beams which supports the ceiling is rotting where it has been getting wet for so long.

“I cannot use my kitchen at all because I am worried to go in there in case it collapses. So I have to get take-aways or rely on my mum.”

As Miss Cader, of the Mile End, Walthamstow, has learning difficulties, she has to rely on support from her mum Ricky, who said she was worried about her daughter’s welfare.

“I think it is the leak that is causing the problem. I am so worried about what would happen if the ceiling collapses on her.”

During their last visit to the housing association the mother and daughter say they were told the ceiling had been repaired.

An Ascham Homes spokeswoman said: “This problem was first reported in March 2008. A contractor attended on 13 March 2008, but unfortunately the tenant was not in. A card was left asking her to contact Ascham Homes so that a new date could be arranged. However, no further contact was made by the tenant.

“A contractor visited the property on Monday to make a temporary repair, and a full repair will be completed.”

Miss Cader confirmed that after the Guardian contacted Ascham Homes, a contractor visited to survey the hole and, after parts were ordered to repair the leaking pipe, the hole would be repaired.