A tenant in Mitcham says he is living in an HMO plagued by cockroaches, leaks and severe disrepair, after part of his ceiling collapsed and water began pouring into his room.
Shem Barnes-Smith, 30, who works as a telecoms engineer, says the condition of the shared property has become so bad that he feels he has nowhere safe and suitable to bring his daughter when she is born. The home is in Mitcham, in Merton, and the case has now drawn in Mitcham and Morden MP Dame Siobhain McDonagh as well as Merton Council.
According to Barnes-Smith, the latest incident happened on October 24 while he was watching television. He said he heard a loud bang before the ceiling fell through. He said he narrowly avoided serious injury and now has to use pots and pans to catch water coming through the ceiling to stop it soaking the floor.
Tenant says problems have gone on for years
Barnes-Smith says the collapse was only the latest in a long list of problems at the property. He says water has been seeping down his wall because of a leak in the roof for a long time, and that he has complained to housing provider Aves Housing more than 100 times over the past three years without the issue being fixed.
He also says there is a cockroach infestation in the HMO and that he has spent his own money trying to deal with it. The property’s shared toilet, used by four people, is also described as being in a very poor state.
After the ceiling came down, Barnes-Smith says he contacted Aves Housing straight away. He said someone came to inspect the damage early the next morning, but that when they saw how bad the property was, they were “too scared” to actually inspect it. He also says another inspector from Aves did not arrive.
MP and council now involved
The case has now reached Dame Siobhain McDonagh, for Mitcham and Morden. She said: “Aves Housing is well known to me and my office. I can fully understand Mr Barnes-Smith’s concerns regarding the condition of his property and the anti-social behaviour he has experienced. I have been in contact with Aves and with Merton Council and have asked that Environmental Health visit the property at the earliest opportunity.”
Merton Council said it had contacted Barnes-Smith to arrange a visit to assess the damage and that it would follow up as a priority. The council also said it would take action if it found breaches of housing standards by the housing provider.
That means the next step is likely to be an inspection of the property, with Environmental Health expected to assess the reported damage and living conditions. If the council identifies failures to meet required standards, it says enforcement action could follow.
Housing provider says alternative accommodation was offered
Aves Housing says it is sorry Barnes-Smith has had a difficult experience, particularly after the storm damage on October 24. The provider says it has offered him alternative accommodation several times since the leak was reported.
The organisation also says it is working with MOAT Housing Association, which it says is responsible for the roof, to complete the repairs that are needed. It added that it is reviewing how it responded on the night of the storm and the other concerns raised by the tenant.
An Aves Housing spokesperson said: “We are sorry that Mr Barnes-Smith has had such a difficult experience, particularly following the storm damage to his room on 24 October. His safety and wellbeing matter to us. Since the leak was reported, we have offered him alternative accommodation on several occasions and are working with MOAT Housing Association, which is responsible for the roof, to complete the necessary repairs.”
Barnes-Smith says the situation has taken a heavy toll on him. He says he has spent £50 on a machine to remove water from his room and has been left exhausted by the constant need to clear it. He also says the conditions have affected his mental health and left him feeling trapped.
The dispute now centres on whether repairs and any rehousing can happen quickly enough to make the property safe. With the MP involved and Merton Council promising to treat the case as a priority, the condition of the Mitcham HMO is now under closer scrutiny.
