One mum living in the tall Wandsworth apartment block said: ‘I hate living like this. It’s horrible. We shouldn’t have to.’
The lift in a South London apartment complex known as a “nightmare” has been breaking down for years, and the residents claim that this has “ruined” their lives. Tenants of Southern Housing-managed social housing at 27 Enterprise Way, Wandsworth, said that as a result of the problem, their health has gotten worse, they are unable to work or go to doctor’s appointments, and they have even missed significant occasions like the birth of a grandchild.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) was informed by distraught tenants that although they had moved into the block with joy when it was finished in 2015, they had since discovered that it was a “nightmare.” When the lift malfunctions, which they claim can happen for days, weeks or even months, many of them are stranded indoors. There is a shared garden terrace in the complex, but residents claim they haven’t been able to use it for a long time, which has made them feel even more stuck.
When the lift has malfunctioned, some residents have been placed in motels; this happened most recently from February 17 to March 20. On the upper floor of the eight-story building, Samira Mohamed, 21, resides with her mother Suad Gaal, 46, who is one of the disabled inhabitants. With a damaged ankle and a spinal problem, she is unable to ascend the 16 flights of stairs to reach their flat when the lift malfunctions.
Ms. Mohamed claimed that despite complaining to Southern Housing on multiple occasions, the problems brought on by the lift’s frequent breakdowns had “ruined” their life and they had given up hope that things would get better. According to her, people’ plans may not come to pass if the lift breaks down less than an hour after it has been fixed.
“You can’t really change anything in your house,” the student said to the LDRS. Attending an appointment is not possible. You are unable to shop. The lift controls your life. One summer, as I was hauling groceries and other items up the stairs, I hurt my back and had to go to the hospital. I still take pain medication for it now.”
She continued: “It feels like we just work for Southern Housing and [you’re] not carrying on with your own life – always chasing up things, always complaining about things.”
The family has just recently applied for housing through Wandsworth Council, but they will have to wait years before they are given the opportunity to move. Numerous people have expressed their desperation to vacate the block to the LDRS, including them.
