A FAMILY claims they have been left ripping up carpets and unable to sleep due to “nightmare” flooding they have been battling for weeks.
A damaged pipe has reportedly left “massive” puddles in the tower block, with one homeowner alleging that the problem is only getting worse.
Mum Rabia Begum claimed that she and her family are suffering from post-traumatic stress over the steady stream of water pouring into their flat.
Ms Begum lives with her mother, sister and teenage son in Vollasky House, a tower block in Whitechapel, East London.
She and other residents of the block have criticised their housing association, Tower Hamlets Community Housing (THCH), over alleged promises going “unfulfilled.”
For their part, the association says that repairs were delayed by a dispute with a resident but have now been completed and it is renewing the pipes in the building to prevent future issues.
They are not taking this seriously enough.
Mim Bapari
But residents of Vollasky House say they have endured terrible conditions for an extended period.
Ms Begum told MyLondon: “We couldn’t sleep at night.
“It was like someone was throwing buckets of water on the floor.
“The smell of stagnant water became so bad I had to rip up the whole carpet and throw it away.
“It was a nightmare, I’ve never experienced anything like it.”
She added that THCH did offer alternative housing while repairs were carried out, but that she was unable to move due to health issues in her family.
Her sister has been housebound for two decades due to schizophrenia, while her 13-year-old son has autism and dyspraxia.
Mim Bapari, who lives in the flat above the Begums, claimed he had to send his wife and baby son to Birmingham to stay with relatives due to the conditions in the block.
He added: “The whole ceiling came off due to the flooding and dampness.
“They are not taking this seriously enough.
“THCH have made a lot of promises, but not fulfilled any of them.
“I understand things like this can happen, but THCH needs to show its prioritising taking action on this.”
Mr Bapari has also allegedly had to shell out £120 on takeaways and £7 a day on dehumidifiers after his flat became “uninhabitable”.
If you are a renter, it is the responsibility of your landlord to repair any flood damage sustained by your property.
In this case, the housing association is required to carry out repairs, including decoration work required to deal with the effects of any damage.
Homeowners, by contrast, can claim repairs against home insurance.
If you own a property in a shared building (i.e. a block of flats) then you need to make sure you have both building and contents insurance.
As the names suggest, one covers damage to the building you live in, while the other protects the items in your home.
Always take photos of any damage caused by flooding, including the line that the water level reached.
You should also check with your insurance company before moving anything or throwing things away.
Once you have approval, throw out damaged items and get rid of anything polluted by chemicals or sewage.
Similarly, avoid using tap water if you notice any changes in taste, smell or colour and throw away any food that has been in contact with floodwater.
Food stored in the fridge should be chucked out if the power has been out for more than four hours, or 24 hours for frozen food.
THCH said it would be carrying out further repairs on affected properties and has advised leaseholders on how to deal with their insurance.
A spokesperson for the association told MyLondon: “The repairs at Vollasky House were completed last week, and water has been fully restored to all homes.
“We’re sorry for any inconvenience caused and appreciate our residents’ patience.
“Dehumidifiers have been provided to the affected properties, and inspections are being arranged to ensure they are thoroughly dried.
“After these inspections, we will carry out the necessary repair and decorative works to fix any damage from the leak.
“Once we were made aware of the leak, a full investigation was carried out.”
They went on to claim that repairs were delayed after one resident denied workers access to their flat, but that the issue was fixed within 24 hours once they were allowed in.
The spokesperson added: “To ensure long-term solutions, we are doing further maintenance at Vollasky House, including remedial work to the roof, and renewing the pipework.
“We will also carry out proactive condition surveys to surrounding blocks to prevent similar leaks in the future.
“We understand the frustration and inconvenience caused and are committed to ensuring residents’ homes are safe and comfortable.”
The Sun has contacted THCH for comment.
