Fed up with months of damp, cold and cramped conditions after Wedco failed to repair their Fabian struck homes two West End families are now squatting in the nearby plush former Governor's residence.

But Lodge Point tenant Debbie Bean stressed she was keen to return to her end-of-terrace home but she can't understand why Wedco (West End Development Corporation) is taking so long to fix it.

She said: “They are doing nothing to assist us. By Friday it will be three months since the Hurricane.”

On Friday she and her next door neighbours the Croftons moved into The Cottage, which had a $500,000 make over in 1998 for then Governor Thorold Masefield while Government House underwent repairs.

Ms Bean said Wedco had told her that the empty property lacked electricity, plumbing and needed renovation.

Although the plumbing is far from perfect the spacious building overlooking the Great Sound, with plush carpets and swanky verandas, contrasts with her family home of decades which still has tarpaulin covering substantial sections of the roof after the hurricane.

“It's a lot better than where we were. A couple of weeks ago a section of ceiling fell on Mrs. Crofton.”

Although she had electricity at Lodge Point, Ms Bean was afraid to turn it on in case it reacted with water from leaks and became dangerous.

She was offered emergency accommodation for her three children, father and friend in Prince Albert Terrace but it was no better than her own damaged home.

She said: “There was asbestos coming off the roof, a hole in the roof and water leaking and there was a window with a crack in it.

“The hallway had a leak on a concrete floor. My children could fall down.”

Government has failed to intervene and they say Wedco general manager Lloyd Telford has failed to meet them.

It is understood Mr. Telford called yesterday hoping for a meeting at his office but the tenants want him to see the conditions they have endured recently after years of paying rent.

And Mr. Crofton said his wheelchair bound wife would not be able to manage the stairs at Wedco HQ.

Ms Bean said she was not happy about breaking the law but she denied breaking any locks to get in.

“We are looking for somewhere safe for our families. We have gone through the appropriate procedures. They had ample time to fix Lodge Point up.”

Her family had been reduced to sleeping in the front room on mattresses and sofas because the upstairs was so exposed.

Mr. Crofton said he had done the same with his family. “We moved the bed into the front room. It was the only room left.

Last month his wife suffered minor injuries when a four-foot long piece of cement board ceiling fell on his disabled wife.

“We had to get out. Telford is playing hardball but I don't know why.”

His son, seven-year-old Raymond junior, said: “I am glad we moved. I was afraid the roof would fall in. It fell on my mother. I was scared.”

Despite their new surroundings Ms Bean said her main wish was to get her Lodge Point home fixed so she could return.

“We love it there, my children go fishing off the rocks, we camp out with tents. What's not to love about it?”