Broadwater Farm resident ‘living on her nerves’ with mice, cockroaches and broken bathtub

Amelia has been making complaints to Haringey Council since 2019 but the issues remain unresolved, reports Miriam Balanescu

Broken bathroom panel — A broken bathroom panel in Amelia’s flat

Broadwater Farm resident has been “trapped” in a flat overrun with pests and in need of bathroom repairs for four years, despite making numerous complaints to Haringey Council.

Amelia (who wished to use a different name to protect her identity) says the situation has “deteriorated over the last five years” – with two separate issues pertaining to drainage in her bathroom and a mice and cockroach pest problem still yet to be resolved.

Amelia has been living in the Broadwater Farm flat for over 30 years but says that in 2019 she made her first report of an issue with drainage in the bathroom, leaving the bath and shower unusable.

She said: “I’ve not been able to use the bath for nearly a year. It has a showerhead, but you have to run so much water just to wash your hair that the water sits in the bath and doesn’t drain away.

“I’m having to go to members of my family just to have a decent wash.”

Amelia also said that there is a pest issue with mice, cockroaches and other insects throughout the flat – which also travel inside from the corridors and neighbouring apartments.

She said: “I’ve spoken to tenants and they’ve said they will report it. It’s probably an embarrassment thing.

“I’m living on my nerves in this flat. I go in the kitchen, I don’t know what I’m going to be faced with […] I sit in my sitting room with my legs up because of mice coming through.”

Since first making the complaints via Community Connect at Broadwater Farm Surgery, Amelia says numerous surveyors and contractors have visited the apartment but she is still waiting – and she has noticed the problems getting worse.

She added: “It just seems to fall on deaf ears and get lost in the system. I just keep reporting and reporting.

“I’ve sat here all day waiting for a repair and nothing has happened – no apology, no explanation. I just have to keep chasing and chasing.

“When I made a complaint about the cockroaches, they’re coming back saying they can’t do anything until a month’s time. These critters are looking to nest and breed. I just think it’s absolutely appalling.”

Since being contacted by HCP for comment, the council has now brought repairs in the kitchen and bathroom forward, but Amelia says multiple contractors have visited the property and told her “they couldn’t do the job”.

Amelia said: “They have fitted the bathroom in wrong. The surveyor says the bath needs to be taken out.

“It is also causing a vile smell. I try to mask it but it’s just permanently there.

“It’s supposed to be my home and yet I just don’t want to be here,” Amelia said. “I get tired of coming up against a brick wall.

“I’m 60 years old, I want to live comfortably and not on my nerves and having to stay awake. It’s not the way I want to live.”

Sarah Williams, cabinet member for housing services, private renters and planning, said: “I want to apologise for the delays and the inconvenience these issues are causing the tenant, which we are now working hard to get sorted.

“Our pest control team investigated and treated the affected areas in March this year shortly after we were alerted to the problem and a further three-course treatment has been set up, starting later this month.

“After an initial visit last week, a specialist contractor will be returning to fix the bath drainage. A surveyor will also undertake a comprehensive assessment of the property before the end of the month to see if further practical action is needed.”

Local news needs your support

We are proud that we were at the forefront of reporting on the recent local elections. We can’t do this without the support of our readers.

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.