The letting agency has hit back at claims that a family is living in damp and freezing conditions after the ceiling in their flat collapsed.

The Altundal family were sitting in the living room on Thursday evening (February 26) when the ceiling gave way in their flat in High Road, Leytonstone.

Hasan and Birsen Altundal, who have two young boys Uguray and Gorkay, claim the flat is unsafe and a plastic sheet is not enough to keep out the rain or the cold.

But Dabora Conway, which leases the property from its owner on behalf of Ascham Homes, denied the roof was leaking because it claims it carried out temporary repairs within hours of being notified.

A spokesman for the letting agency also denied the property was dangerous.

He said: “We were made aware on the morning of February 27 that there were some lose tiles on the roof of above that there was a hole in the dining room ceiling.

“The owner arranged for a temporary roof repair to be carried out within a few hours, and the roof was made wind and water tight.

“Scaffolding was erected on Monday to enable a permanent roof repair to be carried out.

“This repair should be completed tomorrow.

“As with the roof repair the ceiling was secured and sheeted within a few hours of the tenant notifying us.

“I note that Ascham Homes have inspected the property today and confirmed that it is habitable, and therefore they will not be moving the tenants.”