‘Traumatising’: Resident on award-winning Hackney estate speaks out about leaks, mould and a silverfish infestation

The entrance to Rushden Court. Image: Google

In 2018, Asma moved into a two-bedroom flat with her husband and two small children.

The flat was a sparkling new build at Rushden Court on the Kings Crescent Estate, close to Clissold Park and good schools.

“People are always telling me how lucky I am to live on this estate, how good it must be to live somewhere brand new and award-winning,” she told the Citizen.

When the estate was built, it was named ‘Best Regeneration Project’ at the National Housing Awards.

 “I tell them, come, see for yourself how we’re living, you won’t be thinking like that for long.”

The first alarm bells rang when the new residents were told to expect some problems with the lifts “during summer months”.

A year after moving in, Asma – which is not the real name of the resident, who requested to remain anonymous – logged the first issues with her flat with the council’s repairs teams.

“It’s been a living nightmare ever since,” she said, rattling off a catalogue of problems: leaks, orange and black mould, a black fly and silverfish infestation, flooring that has rotted and lifted from the ground, and more.

In 2021, despite having only lived in the new-build for a few years, Asma and her family had to be moved to temporary accommodation to allow repairs to be carried out on their flat. It’s an experience she labelled “traumatising”.

She said her furniture was damaged by the council’s removals men, and her “children were scared to sleep in the new flat”.

“They want to decant us again. I’ve told them, ‘No way’.”

Orange mould in Asma’s flat. Photograph: courtesy the resident

Asma, who suffers from depression and anxiety, says she feels panicked just contemplating another temporary move.

“I don’t want to think about living that nightmare again,” she continued, explaining that only two weeks after she moved back into her flat, “the flooring hadn’t been installed properly and was already peeling off the ground”.

When the repairs team returned again to fix the flooring, “they ignored all health and safety – putting my fridges and furniture in my hallway, blocking the door to my children’s bedroom”.

“They have the chance again and again and they keep botching the repair jobs,” she continued.

“The problem is they [the council] make it impossible to deal with them. They force you to spend all your time, all your energy, just to get the smallest job done.”

Since living at Rushden Court, Asma’s mental health has deteriorated to such an extent that she had to leave her job.

“I had a complete breakdown… and the problem now is that not working only makes my mental state worse. I’m trapped in a cycle, all because of this flat.”

The main cause of the leaks is used shower water that comes through the walls into Asma’s flat from her neighbour’s wet room.

“The problem is so deeply ingrained into the building itself,” said Asma.

“The infestation of silverfish and black flies isn’t just in my flat, it’s everywhere. You see them crawling up the walls of the stairways and halls.”

A silverfish. Photograph: Wikicommons

A spokesperson for Hackney Council refuted this claim: “There is no evidence that this is a block issue. Silverfish and flies are caused by leaks and dampness.

“We need to resolve the issues that cause the infestation in order for the infestation to cease, as any treatment would otherwise have little to no effect.

“The area affected would need to be dried out with a dehumidifier to prevent any infestation from reoccurring, and this is something we are working with the resident to resolve.”

Work was carried out in May to fix the neighbour’s wet room, but following a visit from a surveyor on 27 June, Asma has received no update about how the water damage in her flat will be remedied.

When asked when repair work in Asma’s flat will begin, Cllr Clayeon McKenzie, cabinet member for housing services and resident participation, said: “The issue in her home appears to have been caused by a leak from the wet room of the adjoining flat, for which the necessary repair works have finished at the end of May.

“Unfortunately, we must first wait until both properties have fully dried out before we carry out additional repairs.”

The council spokesperson added: “The drying process can take a long period of time due to the materials used in the construction of the building.

“During the 27 June visit to [the resident’s] property, we found that damp areas still remained, as residual moisture was likely still trapped in the structure of the building.

“We expect a decision to be made tomorrow on what works are required,” they added.

The Citizen asked Hackney Council why Asma has not been offered a new flat.

“It would always be the council’s intention to resolve the repairs required to enable the resident to remain in their home,” the spokesperson responded.

“We are aware that the tenant would like to be considered for a permanent move to a new property, however this is not part of the process for dealing with repairs, where only temporary moves are facilitated.

“Any permanent move would be considered in accordance with the council’s lettings policy.”

When asked about the impact of another temporary move on Asma and her family, the council responded: “We acknowledge that temporarily moving out of her home can be stressful for [the resident] and her family.

“We hope our repair teams will be able to advise on the necessary steps to permanently fix the issues in her home.

“As advised above, if it is deemed that a temporary move is required due to the works that need to be undertaken, then this will be arranged.”

“This flat has taken over my life,” said Asma. “They think that I’m just going to go away, listen to their false promises and not stand up for myself, for my family, but they’re wrong”.

“They need to know that people are not willing to be walked over.”

Asma was dissatisfied with the council’s response to her Stage 2 complaint, which saw her offered £1,310 in compensation, and she has now lodged a complaint with the Housing Ombudsman.

“I want to know how any of this – all this stress, grief, and time – how this benefits anyone?” she said.

“We’ve been left rotting. I’d like to see the managers and heads of departments at the council experience what I’m going through.”