FUNGUS IN A LAMBETH COUNCIL FLAT LEFT EMPTY FOR FOUR YEARS – HOUSING WAITING LIST CRISIS? WHAT CRISIS?

A Green party councillor canvassing on the Fenwick estate at Clapham North found a woman tenant with rainwater running down the walls of her home.

The issue only came to light after a party colleague who was also canvassing Willett House was confronted by the woman’s angry son who thought the canvasser was a Lambeth council employee.

“She had been forced to sleep on her sofa for months as all her bedroom furniture has been destroyed when flooding occurs from next door which happens when the drains back up every time it rains” said Cllr Elliott, who represents Gipsy Hill ward.

“On this occasion flooding had also come from above and flooded her kitchen and a number of tiles had come off the wall.

“The big issues for me here are:

• The appalling state that some of Lambeth’s vulnerable residents are having to put up with affecting their mental and physical health.
• The empty properties that are being left to rot at a cost to those that are homeless and all of us as they should be generating revenue through rent.
• The lack of repairs and timeliness of attendance at repairs – lack of contract management.
• The required major works that, due to Lambeth’s neglect, is now hitting residents badly and which the council needs to address urgently.

“HER HOME FLOODS EVERY TIME IT RAINS”

Cllr Elliott posted the following on social media as the situation developed:

Pete Elliott‏ @pete556 May 9

Just visited the Fenwick estate and saw the awful conditions that some of the residents are in. @lambeth_council you need to start looking after your 90 year old residents and reacting like a responsible landlord when they seek help. @fenwick_place @Lambethgp @cllr_andywilson

Pete Elliott‏ @pete556 May 9

One elderly resident was surrounded by leaky voids and despairing as her home floods every time it rains. All the walkways are flooded, the gutters and drains blocked. Will be escalating this. I thought @savecentralhill was bad but I’m shocked!

Pete Elliott‏ @pete556 May 9

Despite assurances from 2 different people at 5:30pm this evening that someone would attend within 2-4 hours; at 23:45 – still no contact! I want to see the Service Level Agreements between Lambeth, the main contractors and the sub contractors and what compensation is due!

Pete Elliott‏ @pete556 May 10

Just been given access to the property that was flooding the elderly person who we were helping last night. Never seen a place quite like it. Been empty for four years. Respect to the council staff currently in there cleaning it out – it stinks. Can anyone identify the fungus? (Please see photo at top – Ed.)

(To which a Steve Cook replied with the following from Wikipedia:

Peziza domiciliana, commonly known as the domicile cup fungus, is a species of fungus in the genus Peziza, family Pezizaceae. Described by English mycologist Mordecai Cubitt Cooke, the fungus grows on rotten wood, drywall/plasterboard, and plaster in homes, damp cellars, and basements. It is known from Asia, Europe, North America, and Antarctica.

…AND WHAT WAS LAMBETH LABOUR’S REACTION TO THIS? WARD COUNCILLOR (AND CABINET MEMBER) ANDY ‘CREDIBILITY’ WILSON RESPONDED:

Andy Wilson‏ @cllr_andywilson May 9 Replying to @pete556

Pete I appreciate you bringing up the specific issue for this resident – Fenwick has an estate action plan and a lot of support from Housing Management the TRA and local cllrs to ensure issues raised are addressed please do let the relevant council officer know.

Pete Elliott‏ @pete556 May 9

Can’t find the action plan, please share with any updates.

Pete Elliott‏ @pete556 May 11

There are 6 Lambeth council estates that the council has neglected for years, not doing repairs & in this case also not clearing the house in 4yrs after resident left. Here drains were backing up for months/years and this is what happened. Scandalous that so many homes are empty.