BUILDING SAFETY

‘…To tell the truth… the whole truth and nothing but the truth’ ….

In preparing a recent disrepair case for a civil action by the Courts against Origin, the following issues became apparent through various documents disclosed between the parties, in Solicitors correspondence and to include professional reports and a library of media, (i.e., independent video/audio) evidence accumulated by the Tenant involved, since July 2020.

FACT

Residents first took up occupation of this building in 2013.

FACT

During and since that time, many logged repair requests by tenants to the Landlords [Origin] have related to water issues.

FACT

These problems have arisen in part because of a lack of regular maintenance and a questionable standard of repairs by Origin and their in-house and other sub-Contractors employed by them.

FACT

A commissioned joint Surveyor’s Inspection and other Contractors Reports have highlighted serious issues re: the drainage system and pipe-work that deals with the heating, water and sewage systems that runs throughout and around this building as a whole.

FACT

Residents who have been seriously affected by issues of flooding, sewage leaks and black mould have found that Origin and their Contractors have either ignored their repair requests or failed to satisfactorily remedy within a reasonable time frame.

FACT

Serious flooding and leaks have not only impacted on the residents but have also affected the commercial properties below, (i.e., Sainsburys and West Euston Partnership).

FACT

The most badly affected residents have had to be decanted elsewhere whilst attempts were made to locate the source of the leak[s] with major remedial repairs scheduled to be carried out to their flats.

FACT

The quality of these major repairs works to both the communal areas and inside many of the affected residents flats do not appear to be that of a good standard. Nor do they comply with key performance indicators and rules to that of a safe, necessary and industry led building maintenance standard.

FACT

What should now be of the utmost concern to all existing residents is that Origin having conducted CCTV surveys and them having sight of these and written reports, they have, to date, still been unable to confirm or deny they have detected the source of the leaks and whether or not they have, or are able to, remedy the same.

FACT

The manner in which Origin and their Contractors have dealt in addressing and managing this situation and in listening to residents’ concerns, treating them fairly and putting things right where they have gone wrong, raises serious questions as to their and their Contractors behaviour, together with that of matters of maladministration as to their actions.