Lisa Nicholas holds her breath when heavy rains fall, watching her back yard fill with water and worrying that the water one day will make its way inside.

Nicholas’ property floods like others in the Clanton subdivision Cottages at Yellow Leaf, and unfortunately for her, the flooding is just one on a long list of problems.

Nicholas purchased her home from the builder in 2010 after selling a house on Lake Mitchell.

She was excited about moving in, but issues quickly became apparent.

A list of items to be fixed that was detailed on closing documents went ignored, including a poor paint job, holes in the ceiling and a crack in a tub.

The builder, C&W Construction was soon out of the picture.

Still, Nicholas received a letter claiming she owed $300 for a Homeowners Association fee—though the association performed no functions and was not registered at the Chilton County Courthouse.

As she has lived in the house, Nicholas has noticed other issues, including electrical outlets not properly installed and insulation being dumped in one spot in the attic instead of spread out across the ceiling as it should be.

“If this is what you can see, you wonder what you can’t see,” Nicholas said. “You want to know that your house is sound.”

Nicholas has obtained a copy of the building inspection report. It is not dated and contains little information. The resident wonders whether an inspector actually visited the site because she thinks the problems would be obvious to anyone who did so.

The flooding is perhaps the most serious problem because of the damage water could cause to the inside of the home.

City workers installed a drain along the row of back yards, and the solution worked for a time—until a new house was built and the drain interrupted.

Betty Giles lives next door to Nicholas and said she was the first person to purchase a home in the subdivision.

She has lived there since 2009.

The flooding has gotten worse since the construction of the house a few lots over.

“When they built that other house, they blocked [the drain],” Giles said.

Giles said she also found several problems with her home.

“It’s a good thing I know how to use a screwdriver,” she said.

Nicholas has approached Clanton Mayor Billy Joe Driver and the Clanton City Council, but their ability to help is limited.

“They have done honestly everything I think they know to do, but you wonder why was this house built,” Nicholas said. “Why do that to someone?”

To make matters worse, there are plans to build a house in an empty lot between Nicholas’ home and Yellow Leaf Road.

The lot would likely be built up prior to construction, meaning even more water would wash on Nicholas’ property.

So, she will keep worrying when the rain falls, not knowing where to turn for help.

“You trust people to do the right thing, and they don’t,” Nicholas said.