Pensioners in Fishponds say rain has been seeping through their ceilings and causing damp and mould at their housing association properties. Terry and Julia Gilborson, who live at College Court, became particularly worried after reading on Bristol Live about the tragedy of toddler Awaab Ishak in Rochdale, who died due to untreated mould.
“You should care for your neighbour and we felt strongly that we should help. We had read about the baby who had died because of mould, we felt we should speak out,” said Julia, who said their flat is not the only one affected in the block.
Sovereign Housing Association, which manages the block of flats, said it is "not aware of multiple reports of damp and mould at these homes". However, it has acknowledged the issue with leaks and said it is working to identify the source. Late yesterday (Thursday), it confirmed it has appointed specialist building surveyors to carry out a more detailed structural survey and was committed to resolving the residents’ issues.
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Julia, who has lived at College Court for over 30 years, said she and husband Terry sent out a note to all residents at College Court to join together after having to deal with rain coming through their kitchen ceiling. She said it was causing damp and mould and they had heard that other residents were having similar problems.
There are 78 flats on the estate in three-storey buildings, which are staggered and become smaller on the second and third floors. This has resulted in balconies extending over flats below and the Gilborsons suggested rain on balconies is where the problem lies, with water seeping into flats below.
After sending out their note, they received immediate responses from more than ten other residents, both tenants and leaseholders. A Whatsapp group was formed where residents shared their concerns and photos of seeping water, damp and mould in different flats.
Julia said: “We are living with buckets and bowls, and some have no lights because of water pouring through light fittings, in both our kitchens and living rooms. We are both pensioners, but many have small children living in flats like this."
Resident Jelena Riziklva has been a tenant at the estate since 2009 and said her windows have “permanent condensation” and she keeps a bowl under her ceiling to catch seeping water. Another resident, Liz Sowter said she keeps plastic containers across the top of her kitchen cupboards to “catch the water”, while the residents also referenced another neighbour on the Whatsapp group who reported water coming through his living room lights.
A mum-of-two who is also a resident, who did not wish to be identified, said she has moved her cooker into the middle of her kitchen. She said: “The water was running down the back of my cooker. I can see the leaks above my cupboard and cooker area.”
Julia said residents have reported sending complaints to owners Sovereign Housing Association, who have responded, saying that the concerns are “being investigated”. She added that three years ago the balconies were relined, costing each leaseholder £6,000.
However, she added: “If anything, it’s got worse. The last three years have been particularly bad.” She confirmed that residents’ concerns have been reported to their local councillor and MP.
On Tuesday, all the residents received a letter from Sovereign Housing Association which confirmed they had “received reports from some residents about persistent leaks into their property following heavy wind and rain” and that this was “affecting properties in several blocks across College Court” and that investigations would continue.
In a response to Bristol Live, a spokesperson for Sovereign said: "Independent contractors have previously carried out two separate surveys to try and identify the source of the leak at College Court. Unfortunately, these independent surveys have not been able to identify the source of the leak, as they appear infrequently and on an irregular basis.
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“It’s important to us that we resolve this, so we have taken the decision to appoint specialist building surveyors to carry out a more detailed structural survey. Earlier this week we visited and wrote to all affected customers at College Court to reassure them that we are committed to resolving this issue satisfactorily.
“Our team is not aware of multiple reports of damp and mould at these homes, and we would encourage any customer who has this to report it to us in the first instance, so that we can tackle it straight away. In complex cases like this, where the expertise of independent specialists is required, completing a repair takes longer than we would want it to.
“We have set up a dedicated team to monitor progress and will be in regular contact with our customers. We expect the specialist building surveyors to start their more detailed investigations by early February,” said the statement.
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