I have to use an umbrella to go to the toilet after the council failed to fix our leaky, damp and cold flats
A WOMAN has told how she has to use an umbrella to go to the toilet at home after the council failed to fix her leaking tower block.
Deqa Ahmed, 79, is one of a number of tenants complaining about the conditions in Corbett House, Bristol, after waiting two years for Bristol City Council to fix the issues.
The tenants say noisy pipes keep them up at night, while leaks, mould, damp, cracked windows and periods without heating and hot water add to their housing nightmare, the reports.
Bristol City Council said it has said it will spend £3million on refurbishing the block, with work beginning at the end of April.
But Deqa said she has been forced to use an umbrella to go to the toilet for the last four weeks, telling the Bristol Post: “They came to fix it and then it stopped for six days but came back again.
"They took the light bulb off and said let it dry out, it was full of water.
"Now the water is coming from both sides of where the light bulb and I am worried about getting an electric shock."
At the beginning of 2020, residents met with Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees as well as council officers to voice their concerns over the building's maintenance issues.
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But despite being promised help, they claim little progress has been made - and last week staged a protest outside their homes in a desperate bid for action.
One mum-of-three, who has a daughter with autism and a son who is working towards his GCSEs, said they have had recurring problems with lack of heating and hot water over the years.
And the noisy conditions make it next to impossible for her children to concentrate on their studies.
The frustrated mum, Amran, said: “With the constant water leaks all over the building and the constant noisy pipes, it’s making our lives that much harder.
“I am really frustrated and really tired, as a mum who’s got a child with autism I am constantly fighting to get our home safe for the children."
'SMELL OF DAMP'
As a result of the block's 2020 meeting with authorities, the council said 16 flats were assessed and repaired, adding water pressure-reducing valves were trialled throughout the building in 2021.
But Samira Musse, who lives on the 14th floor with her three kids, claims she hasn't heard anything back about her cracked windows, which had not been touched for 12 years until they were measured six months ago.
She said: "I have to open my windows in the morning because of the smell from the damp and then I have to leave the heating on all day because of the air coming through the cracks in the windows, I'm paying extra for my heating bill because of this problem and my kids have eczema.
“We've had so many meetings with the council but I don't see any difference."
We've had so many meetings with the council but I don't see any difference.
Samira Musse
A Bristol City Council spokesperson said the council understands residents' frustration "over the length of time taken to carry out repair work at Corbett House".
They added: "We have recently taken action to fix the noisy pipes and faulty windows and we are also pleased to confirm that a £3million contract has been awarded to carry out a significant improvement programme of work to the block.
"It will include replacement of the existing cladding, new roof and new windows for all the flats, as well as internal decoration and ventilation works to communal areas."
The spokesperson said the work is due to start towards the end of April and will take around two years to complete.
'SINCERE APOLOGIES'
In 2024, the local authority will carry out a full refurbishment of the laundry facilities.
"Letters about these improvements will be sent out to tenants [last] week," the spokesperson said.
"The contractor will be introducing themselves to residents and answering any further questions about the work.
“We currently have eight repairs waiting to be carried out. Two of these repairs have been outstanding for a significant amount of time and we will prioritise completing these as soon as possible."
They offered the council's "sincere apologies to residents for the delay", adding: "All other repairs are being carried out this month.
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"We continue to encourage residents to report specific maintenance issues so that we can deal with them as promptly as possible.
“We have offered to meet with residents and members of ACORN onsite to discuss any further issues, as well as carrying out visits to individual homes. We would like to thank all our tenants for their patience.”
