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Colchester: 'Why won't they fix our windows'

11:50pm Friday 9th May 2008

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Residents today demanded action following problems with rats, rotting window frames and overgrown weeds.

And one tenant has claimed he has waited for a year to get rotting windows at his housing association flat replaced.

Residents at the block of flats in Frank Clater Close, Colchester, say they have spotted rats in overgrown weeds, brambles and shrubbery behind the property, have rotting window frames and battle to keep mould at bay.

Councillor for the St Anne's area Mike Hogg said he asked for answers in a full council meeting as to why much-needed refurbishments were not being carried out in February.

Fellow ward councillor Helen Chuah said one resident had been paying throughout the winter for heating that was "disappearing out of the rotting windows."

The tenant, who did not want to be named, said he had approached landlords Colchester Borough Homes a year ago.

"Someone came to see me a year ago and said something would be done to clear the overgrown area behind the fences here, but so far nothing has been done," he said.

A Colchester Borough Homes spokesman said: "We appreciate being told that there is a problem in the area. We will now investigate the situation."

Karen Loweman, Colchester Borough Homes' director of housing management, said: "We are looking into the condition of the windows at the flats in Frank Clater Close. We would encourage all our tenants to look after their gardens properly. We also offer people advice on what they can do to cut condensation - and mould - in their homes. We think it is important that tenants understand their responsibilities for their homes."

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Your Say YourGazette

D Poole, Rowhedge says...
3:45pm Sat 10 May 08

they won't fix the windows because its costs the council money, simple as

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Feisty CBC, Colchester says...
10:05pm Sat 10 May 08

They are quick enough to take rent and council tax though

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Mandy, Colchester says...
10:31am Sun 11 May 08

Telephone your complaints to Tim Young he is Chairman of Colchester Borough Homes 01206 795343. Although there are strong rumours that Colchester Borough Homes doesn't have any money for these repairs and neither does Colchester Borough Council after they bailed out Colchester Borough Homes nearly £4 million pounds after the coack up on the Decent Homes project.

Finally does anyone know how the Lib Lab partnership is goingto work when they were saying just last week that they couldn't trust each other?

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Private Tenant, Shrub End says...
3:53pm Sun 11 May 08

In comparison to private renting, council house tenants get a very good deal, so they should'nt really moan about this.

Also, the council tax, we all pay, is not meant to pay for repairs on council owned property.

I think the answer is to increase the rent on council houses (Col Borough Homes) to a more realistic level, but I don't suppose those in council housing will want to pay any more!

If they did pay a realistic rent there might be enough cash available to fund these essential repairs.

Those of us in privately rented houses do not stand a chance of getting on the council housing list and I am paying £700.00 a month for a 3 bed semi, without a garage.

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norris cole, col says...
4:00pm Sun 11 May 08

There are plenty of flats available to rent in Colchester. Anyone not happy with the condition of their council house are free to give notice and rent somwhere else.

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Spam, Colchester says...
7:34pm Sun 11 May 08

Why not get a job and pay for it yourself?

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dee brooks, colchester says...
11:05pm Sun 11 May 08

are tenants allowed to make repairs? or would there be some kind of health and safety issue

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funny, colchester says...
8:30pm Mon 12 May 08

Private Tenant wrote:
In comparison to private renting, council house tenants get a very good deal, so they should'nt really moan about this. Also, the council tax, we all pay, is not meant to pay for repairs on council owned property. I think the answer is to increase the rent on council houses (Col Borough Homes) to a more realistic level, but I don't suppose those in council housing will want to pay any more! If they did pay a realistic rent there might be enough cash available to fund these essential repairs. Those of us in privately rented houses do not stand a chance of getting on the council housing list and I am paying £700.00 a month for a 3 bed semi, without a garage.
Ahh poor you without a garage, my heart bleeds for you. I live in a council house on shrub end and i work full time, and i love the council rent lol

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welfare state, colchester says...
11:12am Sat 17 May 08

Tenants cannot expect the Council to do their gardening for them. This is for the residents to look after and to be dealt with if they don't. Expecting the welfare system to bail them out with everything is a lazy attitude. Residents could pay someone private to get the job done. Tax payers are not responsible for footing the bill of their gardens.

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PHIL HURLEY, GREENSTEAD says...
8:46pm Sat 24 May 08

The problems with condensation and mold could be caused by the same problemm I have, the exterior walls of my flat are continually cracking and moisture seeps in from outside.

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PHIL HURLEY, GREENSTEAD says...
8:52pm Sat 24 May 08

The garden of the block in question has a communal garden and it is the responsibility of Colchester Borough Homes and not the tenants to keep it maintained.

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welfare state, colchester says...
11:30am Sun 25 May 08

I hear what you're saying, Phil, but I also happen to know the block of flats in question and I know it houses some of the most disorganised people I have ever met. People who would never consider taking a bit of responsibility over their living conditions and would rather wait until the place is so bad, the council HAVE to do something. Where's the pride? One tenant is an absolute fire-hazard and that flat, in anybody's opinion, should be condemned before it falls down on the tenants below.

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lichen, greenstead says...
10:29am Thu 29 May 08

The council should go and visit every flat there and examine the state of them. Any work they are obliged to do should of course be done. Any work that the resident is responsible for should also be done by the resident. Any resident who does not keep their flat in a reasonable state should be forced to bring it up to scratch...after all, the flats belong to the tax-payers and it is the residents' duty to take their share of responsibility for them. If the council are really responsible for the gardens, then they should do them. If the residents are responsible, then they should do them...or face a fine if the garden becomes a hazard.

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