Angry residents forced out of an Oldham town centre apartment block deemed dangerous by the fire service more than two years ago say they have reached ‘the end of their tether’ after paying thousands of pounds in management fees while they have been left effectively homeless. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) served occupants of the six-storey Victory complex on Union Street with a prohibition notice which meant they left their properties on November 2, 2020.
GMFRS acted following numerous calls to the building caused by a faulty fire alarm system, which caused the residents to stop responding to it. When the Local Democracy Reporting Service visited the property at the time, fire extinguishers were missing from points on landings, smoke alarms appeared to be broken, a skylight roof was gaping open to the elements, pieces of carpet were missing from stairways, and doors which should have been secure protecting utilities were swinging open.
Residents, some of whom were owners of their apartments and others who were tenants of private landlords, were dispersed into emergency council accommodation and others went to stay with family members. Now, two-and-a-half-years on, the issues surrounding the safety of the 31-apartment block still have not been resolved.
