Residents thrown out of an unsafe tower block just days before Christmas have been given a weekend to collect their belongings.
Bracken House, on Charles Street, was evacuated on December 22 last year after a fire service report said ‘major work is required to the building, including replacing the external cladding and carrying out work inside the building’. That came after ‘years’ of issues, one insider told the MEN last summer.
Now, after being homeless for nearly three months, residents staying in hotels nearby, paid for by property managers, have been given two days notice that they will lose full access to the building - and have no idea when they’ll be able to get back in, if at all. Initially, residents were told they would have 12 days to organise the collection of the items they would need while the work was going on.
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However, managers could not confirm when those works will be finished due to the 'staggered' nature of the project, which is starting at the base of the tower and working its way up. It means some residents will have to move out because their tenancies are likely to end before the work completes.
“I feel like the whole thing is a mockery,” the tenant, who continues to pay £650 per month in rent, said. “I have been chasing them since February, because I had a feeling this would happen, and now I have 12 days to move out.
“They cannot say when we will go back so it’s likely it will be after my tenancy ends [in May]. I will have to pack everything up. They should have given us more time, there’s no lift and I live on the 8th floor.”
The man, who has called a hotel room in Piccadilly home for months, says he is not the only person in the same position. He went on: “A lot of people are in the same boat as me. They do not know if they will be able to go back to their apartment before their tenancy ends.
“I started to pack at the property yesterday. When I went back, there were a lot of people moving out and trying to get their stuff out. There’s a lot of frustration.”
Grey GR, the firm which owns the building’s freehold, say the repairs will be done ‘to a high standard’, and the company will continue to pay for hotels and meals for residents. It’s also understood Manchester City Council has waived council tax for the residents, dating back to November 28 last year.
After Grey GR first told residents they would have until March 27 to organise their belongings on Monday (March 13), that was suddenly brought forward by a week today (March 17) - so residents only have Saturday and Sunday of full access to their homes. After this point, they will have 'limited access'
A letter sent to resident on March 17 said: "Following on from our previous communication, pre-construction works have commenced this week and the contractor is due to begin on site on Monday, March 20, 2023...
"As of Monday, March 20, access to the building will be extremely limited due to construction works taking place. If residents would like to return to site to collect any personal items, please do so over the next few days.
"Please note there is not expectation for you to remove all of your belongings - just the things you need access to. Access to the building after Monday will be restricted to very minimal numbers on a supervised basis by the contractor, for health and safety reasons. Residents will be provided with personal protective equipment before they are able to enter Bracken House."
A statement from Grey GR on the March 13 letter said: “Following the evacuation in late December at Bracken House, Grey GR can confirm that a programme of internal remedial works is beginning on site this week. The building will be remediated floor by floor, from the ground upwards. In doing so, we hope that we will be able to phase the return of residents as each floor is completed.
“We have continued to support residents in alternative accommodation, and will continue to do so while this work is ongoing. Grey GR continues to pay for temporary accommodation, and provision of meals for those residents in hotels.
“We have communicated to residents that internal remediation work is beginning and have asked them to collect any belongings they may need ahead of the building being closed for the progression of works from March 27.
“We continue to provide weekly updates to leaseholders and residents on the progress being made. Our priority is to ensure resident safety and the commencement of these works is a big step forward in enabling residents to return to safer homes.”
A spokesperson added on the new deadline: "This is clarification of the detail previously communicated, but also trying to be flexible where possible to help residents – for example providing limited access with PPE if needed."
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