Works to replace outdated pipes more than five years ago has caused a home to "shake violently", it is claimed.

Poshora Roettig, 41, and Kaluba Chitumbo, 43, share a property in The Avenue, Highams Park, where works to replace the Victorian pipes with plastic ones outside their home were carried out by Thames Water in September 2009.

Ever since the replacement and four subsequent reinstatements to repair burst pipes, they claim their home vibrates every time a heavy vehicle drives over that section of the road, including the 275 double-decker bus every 10 minutes.  

The pair moved into the home in October 2005 and say they never experienced any problems prior to the works, but now fear the constant reverberations have "accelerated the wear and tear" of their home, leading to cracks in the ceiling and porch and damage to their chimney pots.

Waltham Forest council deemed the works to be inadequate in 2010 and the road surface was reinstated, but problems have persisted since the initial excavation.

At first, the vibrations occurred in the loft where Mr Chitumbo sleeps, but have gradually "spread throughout". 

Thames Water agreed for an independent test to be carried which found there were vibrations inside the home, but has denied any liability.

The 2012 report found "distinct low-frequency vibration on two occasions when a bus passed" in the attic and a "low-frequency vibration" on the forecourt of the building as a bus passed over the works area. 

Ms Roettig, said: "Their reinstatement of the road has compromised the structure of our property which now shakes violently whenever a heavy vehicle like a bus or truck drives over it.

"It has been over five years now since we first complained and we are now at our wits end.

"Our peace has been disturbed; it’s a complete nuisance and keeps me awake at night.

"We are not going to stop until they repair the road properly."

Mr Chitumbo said the "rollercoaster" battle with Thames Water has "driven him up the wall" and claims the vibrations are "stronger and more frequent" in cold weather. 

A spokeswoman for Thames Water said: "We’ve done all we can for these customers by offering to pay for a surveyor to assess the property – an offer which they originally accepted and then declined.

"Their complaint has also been heard by the Consumer Council for Water, the industry watchdog, who found us to have acted reasonably in making this gesture."

Ms Roettig refutes the statement by Thames Water as "inaccurate" arguing they never declined any survey offered to them and say the Consumer Council for Water have failed to respond to them after they questioned why they would not support their complaint.