Living In Squalor

[tiggerblue10]

https://www.itv.com/news/2021-03-22/the-worst-ive-ever-seen-the-appalling-and-unliveable-council-housing-conditions-some-have-endured-during-lockdown

Who's responsibility is it to deal with these and why has it been left to get this bad and dangerous. Tenants say they have tried to contact the council to sort the problems out but they've been ignored.

I must admit that whenever I have spoken to Croydon Council I've found them quite abrupt and one person even put the phone down on me.

[Mamyalynne]

The spores they will have inhaled could be storing future problems if they aren't ill already.

Unfortunately, withholding your rent puts you on very shaky ground - this is the best way,publicity and shaming them.

[tiggerblue10]

I'm glad that it has been highlighted by ITV news and it's kicked Croydon Council into touch.

That block of flats looks too far gone to be repaired.

[Ken4155]

Let's hope that's not the case mamy. Must admit to being very angry as i watched. When i first started out on my own as a decorator, i did a lot of work for a rather unscrupulous landlord and some of the houses he had bought for a song at auction were in a right old state. None, though, were anywhere near as bad as what i saw on the news. Disgusting.

[Mamyalynne]

I have lived in private rented here for 45 years and a few of the past Landlord's agents have tried to spin a complaint round onto us (now me) rather than take responsibility.

They are better now thankfully and it's less of a battle.

[wolf63]

I live in a 'flat' and have bedrooms in the attic.

My neighbour has mould in her bedroom, her landlord has had the roof checked and repairs are needed. The other landlords are being very uncooperative, they have a legal obligation to pay their share of the bill but they are dragging the situation out as long as they can.

Lanlords, in my experience, are not trustworthy.

[Ken4155]

My daughter had the same problem in two bedrooms, Wolf. We stripped the wallpaper, washed everything down with sugar soap, gave it all a few days grace, then i completely redecorated both rooms. Just a few months later, the mould was back. Landlord said it was condensation and refused to do anything. I threatened him with the local papers and he got someone in to do some repair work on the roof and in the attic.

[wolf63]

Ken, there is a gable end at her side of the building. As it is in the city centre scaffolding might be needed. Condensation is a cop out.

I feel for her as she has two kids, one in her early teens and a wee one about three. She also has the most beautiful long haired white cat.

She works from home so is never away from the damp.

[ynnafymmi]

^Both the above answers seem to be regarding private landlords.The situation with Croydon Council was with a council landlord.So far no-one has answered my question regarding council taxes and rents.

[Ken4155]

^
If they are on benefits, does the council not get paid rent and council tax directly?

[Ken4155]

As for the two who have been moved into hotel accommodation, aren't some of the ex-Grenfell residents still in hotels? :-/

[ynnafymmi]

Not up here in Scotland,Ken.The dole claimants get their dole straight into the bank and also get their rent paid straight into their bank.After that whether they pay their landlords or council is up to them.Most(council tenants)just keep the cash.(as for council tax paying,you are having a joke surely)

[anneasquith]

I have not read all the posts, but, ‘ open a window’ and ‘ they are not keeping things clean ‘ . Dear God what is wrong with people . I hope the media continue to run this abysmal situation .

[Jackdaw33]

How careless they must be in Scotland. Surely common sense dictates that if someone else is paying the rent they pay it to the landlord and not the tenant.

[anneasquith]

‘ most council tenants just keep the cash’ . I’d love to see the evidence for that statement .

[barry1010]

Councils do evict tenants for not paying their rent. Withholding rent is never a good idea and CAB strongly advise against it. Complaining to the local councillor and the Housing Ombudsman is the better option.

[woofgang]

I think direct payment of benefit to landlords has been stopped in England too.

[chelle7272]

Most(council tenants)just keep the cash

Bit of a sweeping statement! Not in my experience they dont, And they would be evicted if so.