Latest news with #NottingHillGenesis
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
'It's like a horror movie': Stomach-churning sea of rats explodes over door in London estate as locals say they are living in a 'Victorian Britain hellhole slum'
Horrific footage shows how rats have infested a whole block of flats in London and turned it into a 'Victorian Britain hellhole slum'. Terrified residents are fleeing the block and moving out after feeling ignored and abandoned by the housing association responsible. The footage shows dozens of rats scurrying across the wall and fixtures of a bin and utility room in Crystal Court in Hackney. Families living there say they 'constantly' see the vermin and hear them during the night, leaving them unable to sleep. Families say they have spent more than four years begging the housing association, Notting Hill Genesis, to rid the block of the rats. Destin Domokundi, a 22-year-old-student who has lived there with his mother since 2012, said the 'disgusting' issue had been raised 'over and over' with the management. He said: 'It's been an issue for years, not just recently. 'This became an issue four years ago. It's gotten really intense recently. People have been scared to go into the bin room. 'Even myself, I'm not queasy around rats, but it's too much for me. You have to give the door a little tap to spook them before you go in. 'I feel they are making their way up the stairs. I can hear them in the ceiling.' Another resident, who has lived in the property for 13 years and pays more than £900 for her flat a month, says she is kept awake at night by the sound of rats scurrying above her ceiling. She said: 'I can hear them in the walls. It's mostly at night - but even in the day you hear packs of them scurrying about. 'It has been affecting my mental health - I haven't had a full nights sleep in over a year. It's awful. 'Next door had a leak really bad because rats bit through the pipes. So they had to move out for a year.' The resident, who asked not to be named, showed emails about the rat problem to the block's management officer from August 2024. She said that pest control attended last year to lay down traps - but the problem has become increasingly dire since then. Pest control have now returned to lay down further traps and lock the bin room, but some residents had not been informed and now cannot top-up their gas from the metres housed in the bin and utility room. Mum Pauline Aldred, 46, who has lived there for two years, said: 'It's absolutely horrific. It's like a horror movie. I cry myself to sleep sometimes at how bad it is. 'I am terrified of rats and any vermin. This is the worst situation I have ever been through in my life. It's utter hell. The housing association has not helped.' Another local said: 'It's the pits. It's like a Victorian Britain hellhole slum. 'It's third world. This should not be Britain in 2025. It's disgusting.' A housing manager visited the block earlier in the week - and blamed the rat problem on resident's not properly disposing of their rubbish, according to residents. One resident said: 'They have said the other block's bin room is spotless, and they have a rat problem too. 'I think the problem is a vicious cycle. I think that people just open the door and throw the rubbish in because they are scared to go in. 'Eleven days ago I sent a formal complaint, but I have had nothing back from them. So now I have gone to the housing ombudsmen. 'Once a year we have the housing officer come around. No disrespect, but she's quite young. She doesn't understand.' Destin added that the rat infestation is just one problem of many facing the block's beleaguered residents. He said: 'I feel that a proper renovation of the bin room would be a good first step. We haven't heard anything from them. The whole estate is a mess. 'The lift barely works. Post turns up weeks after it's supposed to have been delivered. We used to have a cockroach problem in the early 2010s.' Notting Hill Genesis houses around 130,000 people in London and the south-east. A spokesperson for Notting Hill Genesis, said: 'We are tackling ongoing pest issues at Crystal Court and apologise for the impact this has had on our residents whilst we have been working to resolve matters. 'Household waste left in communal areas has now been cleared and we have carried out extensive pest control and prevention work, within Crystal Court. 'Work to clean and remove waste from the bin store has been completed and cleaning will continue to keep the space sanitary. 'We continue to work with residents and have advised them to take additional care when disposing of waste to prevent these issues from reoccurring. We will continue regular communications with residents every two days and continue to support them as we resolve this issue.'
The Guardian
07-06-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
London residents win £550,000 compensation in cladding defects case
Residents of a multistorey development in London have received £550,000 in compensation from a housing association for cladding defects in a case they hope will set a precedent for other claims. Notting Hill Genesis (NHG) and the contractor United Living have also completed large-scale works at their own cost to remedy the buildings in the Exchange development in Bermondsey, south London. After the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 it emerged that thousands of buildings had similar combustible cladding and other fire risks. The Exchange development, consisting of five multistorey residential and mixed-use buildings, and constructed for NHG by United Living, had widespread fire safety defects, including aluminium composite material (ACM), combustible insulation and inadequate cavity barriers. In 2020, residents began a legal case to ensure the work was carried out to make the buildings safe and that they would not have to foot the bill. Kyle Taylor, 40, who works in civil society, said he and other Exchange residents had been shocked when they heard people in a nearby building had received bills of up to £40,000 for similar remedial works. 'It has been stressful,' he said. 'We're a mixed community so we have social tenants, private tenants, and first-time buyers through shared ownership. We're a building of teachers and nurses, key workers and young professionals. I know for myself and for a number of people those bills would not have been payable. 'We are pleased that NHG and United Living have at last done the right thing, but disappointed it took so long. We bought our homes in good faith and were devastated to discover they were not safe because of cost-cutting construction. 'We have had to live in unsafe homes for many years and are relieved that we can now start putting this behind us.' Taylor, who has lived in the development since it was completed in 2014, and has at times spent 40 hours a week on admin connected to the case, said he was pleased the terms of the settlement were not confidential. 'It was really important for me, from the perspective of public interest, that we could be an example for people that it is possible to win on the basis of truth and reality and what's correct and just, but also to inspire some [other] people to go for it.' The compensation will go to 76 leaseholders and independent freeholders and the terms of the settlement mean that none of the works or legal costs can be passed on to any future leaseholders or residents. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion The residents had sought compensation for costs, including court and expert fees, having to live in unsafe homes and inconvenience caused by the building works. Christian Hansen, of Bindmans, who acted for the claimants on a no-win no-fee basis, said: 'What we've seen is that a lot of constructors are basically dragging their feet, they're not keen to do as many works as they should and they're fighting these cases. I can only hope that settlements like this will be a bit of a wake-up call to them that actually they should be settling these things sooner than they are.' An NHG spokesperson said: 'We are pleased to have reached a resolution on this case, having overseen the required building safety work at the Exchange. 'Our duty is to ensure the safety of our buildings and residents and this is always our top priority. Our publicly stated policy is that we do not recharge leaseholders for the costs of remediation work to external walls or balconies where they have been deemed to pose a risk of spreading fire.' United Living was also approached for comment.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Protest at housing association after baby death
The death of a 15-week-old baby who lived in a Camden flat, managed by housing association Notting Hill Genesis, led to a protest outside its headquarters on Friday. Akram Mohammed died in February and his parents believe damp and mould contributed to their son's death. They said "no one helped" from the housing association, after repeated requests for repairs. Patrick Franco from the organisation said: "We know this is a complex situation and will continue working with the relevant authorities as they conduct their investigations." An inquest, opened by St Pancras Coroner's Court, into the baby's death has been adjourned and is due to conclude later this year. Akram's mother, Aiat Mohammed, described her son as a "happy, playful baby". His father, Abdushafi, says he hoped for him to become a doctor. In late February, their baby son started struggling to breathe. His father took him in his arms and ran to hospital. Mrs Mohammed said: "I was trying to tell myself everything is going to be OK. I was trying to calm myself. "There were more than eight doctors and more than five nurses around him." Akram's parents believe "longstanding mould and damp" in their flat contributed to their son's death. Akram's father said: "The house was mouldy and damp and I tried to explain to them many times but nobody helped." The coroner has yet to conclude the cause of death. Paperwork seen by the BBC shows repeated requests from the family, and the charity the Pillion Trust, to address damp and mould in the flat. After the family launched a complaint in 2024 to the housing association, Notting Hill Genesis admitted their "standards have fallen for not being more responsive" and offered £175 in compensation for a late response, lack of communication and for being chased on damp and mould repairs. Photos taken by the family's legal team a week after Akram's death show mould and damp present in the one-bedroom home. Mrs Mohammed said Akram struggled with the conditions. "If they just fixed those issues maybe he had a chance to live," she said. "When he was just months old I started to notice he had difficulty breathing. He could (would) breathe very, very loudly. But eventually the problems got bigger and bigger." She added: "Nobody would stay there. Even for a minute. You couldn't breathe there. You would feel it in the air. The air was mouldy." The family lawyer Mark McGhee said they have been told by the coroner's officer the pathology report stated the medical cause of death was acute pneumonia due to a late-onset Group B Strep infection and dilated cardiomyopathy, a type of heart muscle disease. The BBC has not independently seen the document. Akram's mother said: "We all know a person with pneumonia can't live in a mouldy house." The family's solicitors launched a disrepair claim against Notting Hill Genesis, and an independent survey of the flat, carried out by TLB Services found the housing association failed in its duty to ensure the property was "fit for human habitation". It found mould in every room and "defective" extractor fans in the kitchen and bathroom were "causing excessive airborne moisture". The survey advised £3,055 of repairs to be carried out, including washing the mould and fixing the extractor fans. Notting Hill Genesis said they conducted a thorough mould wash following reports of damp and mould in April 2024, which removed mould from the home. It added, in October 2024, the month prior to Akram's birth, Mr and Mrs Mohammed reported further issues of damp and mould, which the housing association was working to resolve. Mrs Mohammed said: "I would say my baby's death was avoidable. "All we wanted was a healthy environment to live [in]." Akram's parents said they have been supported by the school, of their two other children, and charities since their son's death. Mr Franco, the chief executive of Notting Hill Genesis, added: "We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Akram Mohammed. "We will continue to support the family in any way we can during this difficult time. "No determination has been made by HM Coroner as to the cause of Akram's death, and it would therefore be inappropriate to comment further or to speculate at this time." A Camden Council spokesperson said: "Akram's death is a tragedy and our thoughts are with his family at what is a very sad time. "We have been in regular contact with Notting Hill Genesis who assure us they are working to identify a suitable home for the family." Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to
BBC News
06-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Protest at housing association in King's Cross after baby death
The death of a 15-week-old baby who lived in a Camden flat, managed by housing association Notting Hill Genesis, led to a protest outside its headquarters on Mohammed died in February and his parents believe damp and mould contributed to their son's death. They said "no one helped" from the housing association, after repeated requests for Franco from the organisation said: "We know this is a complex situation and will continue working with the relevant authorities as they conduct their investigations."An inquest, opened by St Pancras Coroner's Court, into the baby's death has been adjourned and is due to conclude later this year. Akram's mother, Aiat Mohammed, described her son as a "happy, playful baby". His father, Abdushafi, says he hoped for him to become a doctor. In late February, their baby son started struggling to breathe. His father took him in his arms and ran to hospital. Mrs Mohammed said: "I was trying to tell myself everything is going to be OK. I was trying to calm myself."There were more than eight doctors and more than five nurses around him."Akram's parents believe "longstanding mould and damp" in their flat contributed to their son's death. Akram's father said: "The house was mouldy and damp and I tried to explain to them many times but nobody helped."The coroner has yet to conclude the cause of death. Paperwork seen by the BBC shows repeated requests from the family, and the charity the Pillion Trust, to address damp and mould in the the family launched a complaint in 2024 to the housing association, Notting Hill Genesis admitted their "standards have fallen for not being more responsive" and offered £175 in compensation for a late response, lack of communication and for being chased on damp and mould taken by the family's legal team a week after Akram's death show mould and damp present in the one-bedroom home. Mrs Mohammed said Akram struggled with the conditions."If they just fixed those issues maybe he had a chance to live," she said."When he was just months old I started to notice he had difficulty breathing. He could (would) breathe very, very loudly. But eventually the problems got bigger and bigger."She added: "Nobody would stay there. Even for a minute. You couldn't breathe there. You would feel it in the air. The air was mouldy." The family lawyer Mark McGhee said they have been told by the coroner's officer the pathology report stated the medical cause of death was acute pneumonia due to a late-onset Group B Strep infection and dilated cardiomyopathy, a type of heart muscle disease. The BBC has not independently seen the document. Akram's mother said: "We all know a person with pneumonia can't live in a mouldy house."The family's solicitors launched a disrepair claim against Notting Hill Genesis, and an independent survey of the flat, carried out by TLB Services found the housing association failed in its duty to ensure the property was "fit for human habitation".It found mould in every room and "defective" extractor fans in the kitchen and bathroom were "causing excessive airborne moisture".The survey advised £3,055 of repairs to be carried out, including washing the mould and fixing the extractor Hill Genesis said they conducted a thorough mould wash following reports of damp and mould in April 2024, which removed mould from the added, in October 2024, the month prior to Akram's birth, Mr and Mrs Mohammed reported further issues of damp and mould, which the housing association was working to resolve. Mrs Mohammed said: "I would say my baby's death was avoidable."All we wanted was a healthy environment to live [in]."Akram's parents said they have been supported by the school, of their two other children, and charities since their son's Franco, the chief executive of Notting Hill Genesis, added: "We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Akram Mohammed. "We will continue to support the family in any way we can during this difficult time."No determination has been made by HM Coroner as to the cause of Akram's death, and it would therefore be inappropriate to comment further or to speculate at this time."A Camden Council spokesperson said: "Akram's death is a tragedy and our thoughts are with his family at what is a very sad time. "We have been in regular contact with Notting Hill Genesis who assure us they are working to identify a suitable home for the family."
ITV News
29-05-2025
- Health
- ITV News
Family say mould contributed to baby's death as housing complaints soar in England
The family of a 15-week-old baby who died after living in a damp, mould-ridden housing association flat say they believe the conditions contributed to his death. Akram Mohammed was less than four months old when he died in February 2025, after spending his short life in a north London flat owned by Notting Hill Genesis. The walls and ceiling were covered in black mould and the property smelled of damp, and Akram's parents told ITV News they believe their landlord did not sufficiently deal with their multiple complaints about the conditions in their home. "We complained, and complained, but nothing happened," Akram's father Abdushafi told ITV News. Abdushafi and Akram's mother Aita Mohammed say they also complained to the Housing Ombudsman in the months before Akram's death, as a new report finds complaints about social housing providers across England have soared in the last five years. "We were crying out for help, but nobody hears" said Aita. When he was born, Akram was a "blessing," his mother said. "He was playful. He was a happy, happy, happy boy," Aita told ITV News. But Aita says her son was just a month old when he began showing signs of having difficulty breathing. "We started to hear him breathe loudly, especially at night... He was struggling to breathe," she said. She sought medical help, including the day before Akram died, but she does not believe his condition was taken seriously. After finding Akram in his cot struggling to breathe and frothing at the mouth, his parents rushed him to hospital but he died at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead on February 21. The family's solicitor told ITV News that a pathology report indicated the little boy died of acute pneumonia due to late-onset Group B Strep infection. Akram, as well as Abdushafi, Aita and their other two young children were living in a severely overcrowded one-bedroom apartment. Abdushafi moved into the flat in 2013, and was later joined by his wife, and subsequently their three children. In a statement, Patrick Franco, chief executive of Notting Hill Genesis, said: 'We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Akram Mohammed and extend our sincere condolences to his family, their friends and neighbours. We will continue to support the family in any way we can during this difficult time. "We know that this is a complex situation and will continue working with the relevant authorities as they conduct their investigations. "No determination has been made by HM Coroner as to the cause of Akram's death, and it would therefore be inappropriate to comment further or to speculate at this time.' In relation to reports of damp and mould in April 2024, Notting Hill Genesis said it investigated matters and subsequently conducted a thorough mould wash. In October 2024, the month prior to Akram's birth, Mr and Mrs Mohammed reported further issues of damp and mould, which Notting Hill Genesis was working to resolve. An inquest will take place in August to determine the circumstances surrounding Akram's death. In 2022 a coroner ruled that two-year-old Awaab Ishak died as a result of breathing problems caused by mould in his family's housing association flat in Rochdale. The government is yet to fully implement 'Awaab's Law', created in his name, which would force social housing landlords to fix problems like mould, damp, and other hazards within a strict time limit. In a new report, the Housing Ombudsman has warned "simmering anger" at poor housing conditions could lead to "social disquiet". Complaints to the ombudsman about substandard housing are now almost five times higher than they were five years ago. The ombudsman, which deals with disputes between residents and social housing landlords in England, said there were 6,380 complaints investigated in the year to March 2025, up from 1,111 in the year to March 2020. Reasons for complaints included asbestos, electrical and fire safety issues, pest control and leaks, damp and mould. The ombudsman Richard Blakeway said the rise in complaints was in part down to an ITV News long-running investigation into social housing conditions, which he says has raised awareness of the issue nationally. 'We have seen how reports such as those run on ITV News have increased the number of residents who know their rights on complaints', he said. 'It has also given them confidence that their concerns will be acted upon, and this is reflected in some of our casework where repairs that were previously stalled have now been investigated by us and resolved. 'Without change we effectively risk the managed decline of one of the largest provisions of social housing in Europe, especially in areas of lowest affordability.'
