A resident of Lambton's troubled Robinson Avenue social housing complex says she was spat on through her screen door during a confrontation with another resident's visitor, as she pleads with the housing department to be relocated.
The complex has been at the centre of months of complaints to Homes NSW, and residents, many of them living with disability and chronic illness, feel they are not being listened to or consulted.
Since the complex, a mixture of modern one- and two-bedroom apartments, was unveiled in 2024, residents say they have faced two years of "hell" from violent tenants, noise and threats, waste buildup, animal droppings, and a cockroach infestation.
Following the latest issues, the resident says her situation is unliveable and wants out.
Homes NSW says is is taking direct action to address issues, and has served a resident with a termination notice.
The woman says a female visitor entered the building "screaming and carrying on" and banged on her door demanding she come outside, before spitting in her face through the screen.
She says the spit went into her mouth.
She said police were called and CCTV footage had been handed to them.
NSW Police confirmed they attended the address but said no charges had been laid.
The woman said the visitor was upset because another resident, who she says is responsible for a string of disturbances at the complex, is due to face the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT).
"Someone is seriously going to be injured because [he] is extremely upset he has to go to NCAT, and I'm copping it not only from [him], his sister, girlfriend and guests," she said.
"Someone needs to do something ASAP before we have a Hamilton South incident," she said, referencing a fatal stabbing in the Newcastle suburb in July.
The woman says noise disturbances at the complex have continued largely unabated, including guests arriving after midnight.
She said police had separately attended the property to warn another resident about noise, without effect.
She says she lives with misophonia, a condition that causes an intense reaction to certain sounds, which she says makes the ongoing noise especially difficult to bear.
Citing advice from a Homes NSW staff member that she qualifies for stand-alone accommodation, the woman has renewed a request to be moved out of the complex.
In a formal letter to Homes NSW seen by the Newcastle Herald, the woman requested an urgent transfer to "a stand-alone dwelling in a low-density area", citing diagnosed medical conditions which she says are being worsened by stress, noise and disrupted sleep at the complex.
"My home should be a place where I can recover and manage my medical conditions, not where they are continually aggravated," she wrote.
The woman has disputed statements attributed to Homes NSW in the Herald's earlier report on the complex, in which a spokesperson said staff had visited the complex on July 15 to discuss residents' concerns, and that common areas including bins were being kept clean.
NSW Homes said staff conducted door knocks at all units during the visit on July 15. No tenants responded other than the woman, and calling cards were left requesting contact, Homes NSW said.
The resident says no one attended in person on that date to speak with her, and said other residents told her they received phone calls from Homes NSW asking about the antisocial behaviour, rather than a face-to-face visit.
She has also disputed Homes NSW's claims of the bin areas as being properly maintained.
A second resident said bin collection at the 20-unit complex remained inconsistent, with bins not reliably being put out and returned on the correct days and, at times, left sitting on the road for extended periods.
He said he managed the bins for the entire complex himself for the first year despite his own disability, but says the task was too much for one resident.
A Homes NSW spokesperson said the department had taken direct action in response to issues reported at the complex.
"Everyone deserves to feel safe in their home," the spokesperson said.
Homes NSW reiterated it had terminated tenancies and was pursuing further action through NCAT.
"We maintain a regular presence at the complex, including weekly site visits, and continue to work closely with residents and NSW Police to address safety concerns," the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said any incidents involving violence, threats or criminal behaviour should be reported to police, adding that this could assist both police investigations and any tenancy action taken by Homes NSW.
"We understand these issues have caused concern for residents and we remain committed to maintaining a safe and respectful living environment," the spokesperson said.
Homes NSW says it completed a welfare check on the resident who was spat at on July 15, and discussed her transfer application.
The resident denies this occurred.
If retaliatory behaviour is suspected or reported following a tenant's complaint, Homes NSW advised they work with NSW Police to share information and prioritise tenant safety.
Homes NSW confirmed a neighbouring resident has been served with a termination notice.
The Notice of Termination expired on July 29, and the tenancy team was progressing an application to NCAT seeking termination of the tenancy, they said.
Homes NSW identified illegal dumping of rubbish by unknown offenders, and incorrect use of the bin bays by a small number of tenants as contributing to waste issues.
