Anger over living conditions at block
BY CALUM FRASER
calum@slpmedia.co.uk
Distressed residents handed in a letter to town hall chiefs saying they felt conditions in their housing block were “depressing and anxiety-inducing.”
Members of the London Renters’ Union (LRU) living in Lewisham’s Eros House handed a letter to Genevieve Macklin, Lewisham council’s head of housing.
Among other complaints, they claim water is leaking into electrics and that there is substantial mould and damp coming through the walls.
There are 60 flats at Eros House, in Brownhill Road, Catford, most of which are occupied by people placed in temporary accommodation by Lewisham council and other councils including Wandsworth and Croydon.
The letter was constructed after dozens of testimonies from residents were gathered on paper and meetings were held at the block.
The letter says: “The poor standards the residents have to come home to are quite frankly depressing and anxiety-inducing.
“We hope this letter leads to fundamental change.”
They also said that the complex web of different bodies involved the management of the property was distressing residents.
The block is owned by Catford Holdings Limited. Acorn Group used to manage the block.
The council said it is being transferred to District Homes (DM), but DM says it is managed by Landslide
Property Management.
The group of more than 20 residents signed the letter and also handed it into the offices of Acorn Group.
A spokesman for the LRU said: “The conditions some of our members are living in are appalling.
“There is water leaking into electrics, damp coming through exterior walls and substantial mould.”
The LRU is a new union set up by housing activists from Lewisham and across London.
The letter was handed in on Wednesday, April 11.
A Lewisham council spokeswoman said: “We have been working with residents, new managing agents and London Renters to improve the homes as management of the block is transferred from Acorn Estates to District Homes.
“We are supportive of the involvement of London Renters to represent the interests of the residents during this transitional period.”
A spokesman for Acorn Group said: “We are no longer instructed to manage the building and cannot comment.”
A spokesman for District Homes said: “We are not making a comment at this time.”
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