Homeowner wins £8k after lawn was left looking like 'Teletubbyland' from moles

03 June 2024 , 16:38

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Val Starbuck with her sinking garden (Image: IOW County Press/Solent News)

A homeowner whose £10,000 artificial turf was left looking like “Teletubbyland” has been awarded thousands of pounds in compensation.

Val Starbuck, 64, was happy with the work completed by firm Kositoes at her home in Wroxall, Isle of Wight in July 2021. She later needed pest control to sort a mole problem and the firm revisited on a few occasions, but nothing was resolved and parts of the garden started sinking. The homeowner argued the mole would not have caused as much damage had the work been carried out to a 'proper standard' - which company director Robert Briggs said was 'totally incorrect'.

She took him to court, and after a trial at Isle of Wight County Court, a judge awarded her £8,000, saying the work was “not carried out to a high standard as promised”. The small claims court heard a mole was the culprit for the original lumps, but the work had been done to such a standard the surface would have eventually 'lost its 'trueness' anyway.

The garden started having issues a week after it was finished when moles arrives (IOW County Press/Solent News)

While not obligatory, expert witness Mr James Firth said it is generally considered good practice for artificial lawn to have membrane laid underneath, but this had not been done by Kositoes. He said this would have made it 'more difficult' for the mole to get through, to which Mr Briggs asked: "Are you aware moles can dig through concrete?"

Speaking afterwards, Ms Starbuck, revealed the garden was still 'worse than ever' despite the conclusion of court proceedings. She said: “They just didn't do it properly at all, it's just a mess, it's all falling apart. It looks a bit like Teletubbyland."

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Val was successful at court and awarded £8,000 (IOW County Press/Solent News)

"I haven't been able to use large parts of the garden because it's far too dangerous, it's dangerous. It just gives way underneath you. It's been a mess from the start. It has taken nearly three years - it's been a long, hard slog. It's been quite an ordeal for me.

"I just don't want anybody else to have to go through what I've had to go through. What I now have to do is get all this rubbish taken away and start again with someone else."

Antony Clements-Thrower