Residents in Upper Parliament Street flats deal with leaks, mould, and unsafe conditions, blaming Sanctuary Housing.
Maria Perera is a student nurse who lives on the second floor. Maria and other women feel stuck. Maria moved there last November and says the building is old with wet walls and insulation.
Maria reported a falling wall last April. Five months later, they plastered it, but she says the job was not done well and she is still waiting for them to finish it as the damp is causing all the issues.
Sanctuary knows about the problems, but they only cover things up. Damp comes from all floors. Maria sleeps with a hat on, and she now has sinus problems. There was also a hole under her bathtub.
She says that the wood was corroded, and this lasted over three weeks. Sanctuary did not offer a hotel, saying she could wash in the sink. Maria is alone in the UK and pays rent monthly.
She spent money on flooring and furniture because the apartment lacked these items. Her room is cold with single-glass windows. The floorboards are rotten, so they covered it with vinyl. The kitchen floor is sunken.
The news saw dampness and mould, and the kitchen floor was also sunken. Maria thinks the roof causes the issues. Sanctuary knows the walls are wet, and water seeps through from the roof.
The roof insulation is soaked, and water enters through the chimneys. They painted over the mould and often miss appointments. She takes time off work for them.
Another woman lives on the top floor and asked to stay anonymous. She uses a bucket for dripping water. People have complained about the roof since 2017, but Sanctuary has not addressed it.
Rain gets trapped under the roof tiles, and the walls are soaking wet with mould. The resident says the tiles are loose, and her chimney is collapsing. She had a rat’s nest in her flat.
There is still rat waste there, and the chimney drips when it rains. The building is cold and wet. She was left like this over Christmas. Sanctuary has neglected the building.
They had three housing officers, and she feels left alone and unsupported. It is disgusting to leave someone like that. They need a new roof or relocation, and the woman feels the building is unsafe.
Sanctuary said they completed some roof work and plan more repairs soon. They will inspect each home again. Sanctuary is sorry for the concern and committed to fixing the issues.