Guest post by ‘Distraught Brent Council Tenants’
who contacted Wembley Matters who hope that publicising this issue will lead to
action by Brent Council.
The above images depict the consequences we have
had to suffer because of Brent Council Repairs team's negligence and apathy
towards their loyal tenants at no fault of ours. Despite numerous complaints
since 2013, Brent Council has failed to solve the disrepairs, for which they
are solely accountable. Having never had rent arrears and never withheld rent
for the past 14 years, the repair team’s inactivity and profound failure to
meet their responsibilities has caused us financial loss, distress, and
inconvenience, forcing us to attempt to treat the aftermaths of flooding and
leakages ourselves. Despite having clearly identified and communicated the
source of these issues, the large amount of debris/dead leaves falling from a
nearby tree onto the roof in the Autumn season causes blockage of rainfall, the
voices of my family have repeatedly been silenced.
Having exhausted all complaint procedures including
liaising with Brent’s MP and contacting the Ombudsman and Councillors, with
complaints of endless leakages into the property leading to 2 major floods, one
of which the Fire Brigade was called to immediately clear 10 inches of
contaminated blocked roof water, no genuine action has been taken by the
Repairs Team. Upon clearing of roof water due to the Flooding in the premises
in October 2020, the firefighter on the scene mentioned that the "roof
requires restructuring as gutter channels are too small in width to allow
enough water through the pipe” (surprised that such a small opening would
provide access for water across such a large area to flow through). An
electrician assigned by Brent Council attended 10 full hours after the incident
occurred leaving us exposed to the heightened health and safety risk of
electrocution that the flooding had caused. Even more appalling is that a contractor,
assigned by Brent Council to clear the roof water, arrived 12 full hours after
the incident (with no access to the roof to do the works)!
Since October 2020, we have had no lighting to the
living room and hallway and the Council has yet communicated a concrete
solution or timeframe to this disrepair. The council, leaving this matter
unresolved, has further exacerbated recurring internal property damages as
winter/rainfall season approaches also disregarding the financial loss and
personal expense costs, costing thousands of pounds related to the redecoration
with mould treatment, re-furnishing, disposal, and replacement of contaminated
goods alongside increased heating and electricity costs. Putting the heating on
and dehumidifying for prolonged periods to dry wet walls due to excess moisture
has forced us to see at least 4 fold increases in our bills as a direct result.
Numerous complaints have also been constantly
raised regarding chronic cold conditions and penetrating damp growth as a
direct result of leaking water from the roof exacerbating existing health
conditions my family have had to cope with over the years. Mould exposure and a
musty, unpleasant odour sourced from the flooding and unbearably cold
temperatures have made our home a misery and unsafe to live in. With damaged
goods, flooring and furniture being disposed of because of the floods, the
Council has not acknowledged this and shamelessly continues to turn a blind
eye.
Endless chains of complaints between surveyors, the
Repairs Department, and the Chief Executive as a result of the Council's
inactivity and poor communication between surveyors and those holding
managerial positions within the Service department have caused us concern and
worry about our health and safety within the property.
Inspections and Surveyors
The council neglected to communicate the next steps
after a 2-hour long inspection involving evidence being taken by a surveyor in
the form of numerous reports and pictures. With Brent Council’s tenancy
agreement specifying that:
"Within five working days of
this appointment the surveyor will decide what work needs to be done, raise the
necessary works orders and write to you with confirmation of the timescale
within which this work will be carried out."(p16 of https://www.brent.gov.uk/media/16412335/tenancy-guide-final.pdf),
this has never happened to be the case. Neither of
these aspects had been relayed after inspections - deeming it a complete waste
of time.
In addition, inspection reports have been reported
missing with surveyors suggesting they have no access to previous reports. A
high turnover rate of surveyors has also meant newly appointed surveyors have
no previous understanding of the case since 2013 resulting in a vicious cycle
of visits and missed reports. Having different surveyors enter the property for
"inspections" and making verbal expressions of supposedly
"reporting and following up" of reports have proved unsupported by
genuine action causing us to believe this as a threat to our personal safety.
●
In January 2018, CEO stated "On December 2017 an inspection was requested
from our contractor to look at your overflow pipe...Although this inspection
was requested I have to report that it has not been carried out"
●
Project Manager in Sep 2018 stated: "Surveyor, attended your
home...however left shortly thereafter and did not supply the information which
you have explained were discussed”
There have been many occasions whereby surveyors
have randomly shown up whilst others failed to attend within their booked
slots. However, as would any other resident, we are not obliged to allow access
into the property for a random show of surveyors without pre-scheduled
appointments in agreement with the tenant. This, once again, indicates the lack
of transparency and communication between the Repairs Team, surveyors and
tenants.
Comments from Contractors
●
October 2020: Roofer attended property with no access to the roof as council
did not provide key and said he would not be able to attend roof physically
“due to health and safety reasons” despite being a roofer. Said it was “mostly
paperwork” and would hear from the Council soon. It has been more than a year
since and this has not been the case.
●
We overheard a contractor asking the other whether he knew the resident he
initially spoke to from within the property was a "black lady” before
knocking on the door. Is Brent tolerating such poor standards by paying
thousands to partner with contractors who seem to be endorsing such comments?
These events certainly seem to conflict with Brent Council’s Equality Strategy
2019-2023 whereby they are committed to:
“ensure consistency in the delivery
of equality across the council. Contractors [are]...to comply with equality
duties set out in the Equality Act 2010” (https://www.brent.gov.uk/media/16415181/equality-strategy-2019-23.pdf )
Lack of communication and no responses from Repairs
Team/MPs/Councillors
●
We have been complaining about the inactivity of repair works more recently but
since June 2021 have had no response, email or communications from the council.
●
An email sent 2nd of June 2021 to Housing Councillor requesting that she put
pressure on the repairs team to escalate the case has not been responded to
since.
●
Email sent to Brent’s MP on Nov 10 2021, no response received since
Each and every Repairs staff member, contractor
& MP/Councillor has failed us profoundly. It is a complete disgrace and
altogether unacceptable that my family and I must suffer at the expense of the
failures of Brent Council’s Repairs team for an excruciating period, who are
being directly reimbursed for their inactivity by each taxpayer. Each resident
should be able to enjoy a “habitable” home, be entitled to the basic repairs
service they deserve and not have to experience the outcome of poor
communication between and standards of contractors and senior members of the
repairs team!
