A dad has said he feels trapped in his tenancy at a converted office block in south Bristol which has been described as "substandard" and "deeply worrying" by an MP.
The father of one, who does not wish to be publicly named, says his family are staying with relatives elsewhere because they do not feel safe at the former Parkview office complex in Hengrove - now known as Imperial Apartments. He said attempts to find new accommodation have been mired in confusion over his tenancy and hampered by a lack of affordable homes for people on benefits.
He fears if he gives up his tenancy at Imperial Apartments he may be deemed to have made himself intentionally homeless and lose council support. BristolLive understands that, if someone gives up a private tenancy, an assessment would then be carried out by the council and that they could be deemed as making themselves intentionally homeless if the property was suitable and met their needs.
READ MORE: MP says Imperial Apartments is example of ''substandard' housing
The dad, who has a second child on the way, said he has received offers of help from Bristol City Council but that they are not suitable. One option he was given was to move to another property within Imperial Apartments, he said.
He said: "It is making my mental health go downhill, the flat is too small and I get claustrophobic. I do not feel it is appropriate for a family to be housed here. I have measured it and the living room is smaller than a shipping container. I have really bad anxiety and depression."
In January, Bristol South MP Karin Smyth asked the council to stop housing families with children at Imperial Apartments, adding that all the families it has already housed at the controversial complex should be moved out as soon as possible. She is so worried about living conditions at the site that she then raised this issue in Parliament, describing the site as an example of "deeply worrying" "substandard accommodation".
Read more: Take a look inside controversial housing development
Last month, Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees announced the council is to pause housing families with children there, admitting there are "some challenges" at the site. The mayor wouldn't say whether the existing families at the site would be moved out, but that the review will look into this.
Caridon has previously said it offers a large community development where residents co-live and interact and recognised that while isn’t for everyone, it says there is a very positive atmosphere in the building. The developer has previously said it has had a very small number of tenants who have raised concerns about living there and that, in those cases, they have helped in any way they can and sought "amicable solutions for issues raised".
The dad - who rents one of the two bedroom flats with his partner and their child - said: "We would like to move as soon as possible and I have requested a move with the council. I have been offered a transfer within Imperial, but that is not what we want. I feel trapped there.
"I have been told both that I am a private and that I am a council tenant. I feel like I am fighting a never ending battle to move. I have rang loads of time with complaints and they have not done anything to help me. The council are not listening to me, they say they can't help me because I am a private tenant, but the private rented tenancy team [at the council] tell me I am a council tenant.
"They were asking me for my tenancy agreement but I do not have a copy of it, Caridon asked for it last year and they never returned it," he claimed. "I think they should move people who have children out, this is not a child-friendly place."
BristolLive approached both Bristol City Council and Caridon to comment on his concerns and his claim the agreement is missing, but neither has commented. BristolLive's understanding is that tenants at Imperial Apartments are private tenants who were supported into private housing by the council.
Do you live at Imperial Apartments? What do you think about living there? Our reporter Estel would love to hear from you. You can contact her directly on estel.farellroig@reachplc.com
BristolLive understands that the issue of the return of the tenancy agreement will be raised in a meeting between the council and Caridon. BristolLive also understands Caridon sometimes asks to see tenancy agreements to scan them but that these should be returned.
The dad said they have been at Imperial Apartments for more than a year now and that their fixed-term tenancy ended in December last year, meaning they are now on a rolling contract.
He said he has been told he can do a home swap, but he says that no one wants to swap with a property at Imperial Apartments. The council's homeless prevention team have referred him to the private renting team, he continued, who have offered to pay for his deposit and first month's rent. However, he said he can't afford the rent at places that accept people on benefits.
He has seen properties advertised in Lawrence Weston and Avonmouth for up to £950 he could afford, he continued, but he isn't sure the landlord would take someone on benefits.
The dad complained about a lack of support, claiming that he has been trying to get a support worker but hasn't been able to. He claimed he has asked for support from Caridon in their office at the development but that he is still waiting for them to get back to him nine months later.
"I have no family in this side of Bristol so it is just us here, we are pretty isolated," he continued. "I have had to go to doctors as I feel close to relapsing, I do not want to eat and sleep.
"I have a history of drug problems but I have been clean for six years now."
In recent months, BristolLive has reported on many concerns from residents at the former Parkview office complex in Hengrove - now known as Imperial Apartments.
Among the concerns raised about Imperial Apartments, a young mum claimed 'they are the worst' and a first-time dad said he feels so unsafe living there that he sleeps with a hammer and a screwdriver next to his bed, with other residents comparing the development to storage facilities and even a prison.
Another young mum claimed that her daughter ended up in hospital because of mould at her flat, while another claimed she is being sexually harassed "all the time".
Information released by the council stated that there are a total of 82 children under the age of five living at the development. The council wasn't able to provide details on children aged above five despite an officers’ warning that no child over five should live at the two-bed units created in the first phase.
Read more: Imperial Apartments houses more than 80 children under the age of five
Bristol City Council, which rents nearly 70 per cent of the properties at the site, has previously admitted that the use of a former council office block in south Bristol for housing is "not an ideal option" and city mayor Marvin Rees described it as 'the least worst option'.
However, the council has previously defended its decision, saying the site has provided housing for more than 200 people. Caridon - the developer behind the controversial conversion - has previously said Bristol City Council is happy with them.
Read more: Imperial Apartment residents compare site to storage facilities
Caridon has previously described Imperial Apartments as a "very diverse community" where "people from all walks of life live". The developer has previously said that no one is forced to live at the site and that "it is completely their choice to be here".
The developer has also defended the size of the apartments - describing them as adequate - and that the site has several facilities including a Zen garden or a "very well used" soft play area which tenants can use free of charge. There are also two free gyms at the site - with a third one due to open - and three IT suites.
Caridon has previously said it continues to take feedback from residents, local stakeholders and Bristol City Council to ensure the building achieves its objectives and is a success for the local community.
Responding after Ms Smyth's remarks in Parliament, a spokesperson for the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said: "Councils are responsible for allocating social housing to tenants, but improving the quality of social housing is a responsibility of all social landlords.
“Everyone deserves to have a safe and decent place to live, which is why our White Paper outlined our mission to bring 800,000 rented homes across England up to a decent standard, halving the number of poor quality homes.”
Read more: Imperial Apartment residents compare site to storage facilities
Read more: Imperial Apartments houses more than 80 children under the age of five
Read more: Take a look inside controversial housing development
