Work and money correspondent, BBC London
BBC“We are treated as peasants. As if we weren’t good enough to live in decent houses,” says Lorraine Branch, a tenant in Nags Head Estate in eastern London.
She is part of a group of tenants who have resorted to recruiting lawyers and health workers of the charity, to fight Peabody after complaining for years of steam and mold in their homes.
The tenants said that Bethnal Green Estate has had long -standing problems that blame the health problem, including respiratory diseases, and affirming that previous repairs have only been a “quick solution” that has not solved them.
Peabody, one of the largest housing associations in England, said it had “invested more than 1 million in improvements” in 2024, but “unfortunately, it will take time to solve all problems.”
Lorraine has been living in Nags Head Estate for 14 years with her four children.
She said: “We have tried to gather all tenants, pulling, delivering brochures, meetings just to involve people.
“We have hired lawyers, we have had medical professionals administered by a charity to help us.”
‘They are quick solutions’
Lorraine showed me a wall of one of the floors that was painted last summer.
The wall was still wet and the paint took off his hand when he touched it.
“They are fast solutions,” he said.
“They are not copulating the walls. Nothing is being resolved,” he said.
“In the long term, you would think that they would have put the money to solve the problems instead of continuing to return, keep back. It is costing more money.”
The BBC filmed on another floor with black mold in the hall, kitchen and shower curtains.
The carpet was wet and the flat fusion.
The tenant, who did not want to be appointed, said he had been denounced for Peabody, but said he did not act for eight weeks.
After the housing association organized washing the mold, the problems “returned quickly,” they added.
Fatima Tejani has lived on the farm for 16 years with Re -Family and said that her expiratory problems began after she moved.
“I start having COPO [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]Pulmonary problems, “he said.
“I blame the house.
“When you have health problems, you have mental health problems. Peabody has become ill.”
‘When I’m out, I’m fine, but when I’m inside [the flat] I start coughing. It is not normal for me. “
“If we are going to sleep, are we going to wake up?”
In 2024, his family was transferred to temporary homes for three months, while Peabody did repair work.
But when the family returned, they found “more difficulties than before”, including condensation in windows and wet carpets.
Fatima believes that the repairs were cosmetic and said they did not approach the root causes of the mold and moisture.
“I am really worried about the combination of water and electricity,” he added.
“What will happen? If we are going to sleep, are we going to wake up?”
The housing association provided them dehumidifiers, but their three children, who share a room, said it makes it difficult to sleep.
His 10 -year -old son said: “I woke up and my face was not sweating, but there was water throughout my face.”
‘High rates of health problems’
The possible tenants decided that they would start working with professionals in the beneficial organization of the Medact Health Justice campaign, to promote a solution.
In a survey it was carried out in 2024 or 37 homes, approximately a quarter of the social tenants on the farm, 35 said they had visible Moud and 30 homes said they had steam on their property.
The beneficial organization said that 31 homes reported new symptoms or injuries since they moved to their properties, and 19 said that at least one member had developed a respiratory condition.
Medact said in his opinion, this “was probably related to the widespread mold and the humidity of the heritage.”
Dr. Isobel Braithwaite of Medact explained: “We have seen really extensive problems with wet, mold, leaks and poor condition and we have also seen that people report really high rates of health problems, particularly respiratory mental.
“We believe those things are linked.”
Tracy Packer, Peabody Managing Director for the Northeast of London, said it was “an important report” that “reflects the responses of the surveys around a quarter of the houses in the farm.”
She said Peabody wanted to listen to all Nags Head residents to “help us shape this investment and agree where the improvements will be made.”
“Last year we invest more than 1 million in improvements here and I am committed to design a plan of £ 3 million with residents that I hope to make a positive difference.
“Unfortunately, it will take time to solve all problems.”
He added broader problems, such as overcrowding, “continues to be a big problem and is an important part of the emergency of London housing”, along with the “rapid increase costs”, which means that your social interest can cover “much more costs.”
“This makes it an exceptionally challenging situation,” he said.
“But we are doing our best and we are determined to improve.”
Comes as social housing owners in England You will have to set wet and moldy properties more quickly from OctoberThe government has announced.
The rules will also cover private owners.
The activists asked stricter rules After Awaab Ishak, two years old He died by mold at his Rochdale house in 2020.
