The family of a Kanahooka 86-year-old whose house was damaged when a tree on the nature strip fell in a storm is fighting Wollongong City Council to fix it.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But a council spokeswoman said it was not liable for the damage.
Robert McCann has been living in the damaged home since August last year, according to grandson-in-law Robert Brigham.
"On the 22nd of August he was sitting in the lounge room about nine and heard a bit of a crack," Mr Brigham said.
"For some reason he knew it was going to be the tree so he ran to the bathroom. He didn't even get there before the tree fell on the house.
"SES came out, took the power off and cleaned up as much as they could. They came back the next day and tidied up even more.
Mr Brigham said he and his wife have tried to get Mr McCann to move in with them.
"We've tried to get him out but he just wants to live in his own home," he said.
With a tarpaulin covering some of the holes in the roof, no electricity and Mr McCann not having any insurance, Mr Brigham has been fighting with council to repair the damage.
He believed, because it was a tree on the nature strip that fell onto the roof, that council is responsible and has approached them three times - to no avail.
A council spokeswoman said it was not obliged to repair the damage.
"At the time of the incident council officers made contact with the family of the resident and offered assistance in connecting them with council's community services team to help obtain any emergency assistance required," the spokeswoman said.
"Council officers have offered support to the resident in the form of referrals to government agencies such as My Aged Care, charities and crisis accommodation providers, however council does not have liability in this matter," the spokeswoman said.
"Damage to personal property including homes is an understandably emotional situation. These types of repairs would ordinarily be covered by home insurance."
We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.