Disabled Sutton tenant trapped in fly-infested flat for years

A disabled woman in St Helier has spent years living in a first-floor flat plagued by flies, rodents and unsanitary conditions, despite repeated requests to her housing provider for a move or adaptations. The 45-year-old, who suffers from spinal problems, says the 14-step climb to her home in St Benet’s Grove can take her 40 minutes and has left her health deteriorating.

The resident, a former cleaner, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that her situation worsened around a year ago. She described returning home to find thousands of flies emerging from her letterbox and covering her windows. A subsequent mouse infestation forced her to discard clothes and household items, filling 65 black bin bags.

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Council intervention and ongoing issues

Sutton Council secured a court order to remove one of her neighbours after rubbish and animal waste accumulated in communal areas. Sutton Housing Partnership (SHP), the resident’s housing provider, paid for a two-day clearance that removed 120 black bags from the property. However, the resident claims rubbish left in the garden after the clearance attracted more vermin.

Roz Chamberlain, a neighbour who has lived in the block for 21 years, said she had never experienced conditions like those of the past year. She described the smell during the clearance as resembling a decomposing body, requiring air fresheners throughout the stairwell to mask the odour.

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Requests for adaptations and a move

The resident says her bathroom is too small for disability adaptations, and her mobility issues sometimes prevent her from reaching the toilet in time. She has asked SHP for a ground-floor flat or a first-floor property with a lift but says her requests have been ignored or met with delays.

She provided medical evidence from her GP, which cost her £20, detailing her deteriorating health. Despite this, she claims SHP initially gave her hope of a move before later asking for further medical evidence. She says she has been told she does not meet the criteria for a transfer and faces a 10-year waiting list for a Band C property.

SHP are absolutely disgusting, they give you hope and then take it away.

St Benet’s Grove resident

SHP has advised her to seek a mutual exchange or private rented accommodation, but she says private rents are unaffordable and few tenants would want to exchange into a flat next to her current neighbours. She described herself as effectively trapped in her home.

Responses from SHP and the council

A spokesperson for SHP said the organisation has been working with Sutton Council and other partners to support the resident. They acknowledged her health issues and the impact on her mobility and mental health. While waiting for an NHS update on her condition, the council has provided equipment for her home and enquired about additional care support, which she declined.

The spokesperson added that demand for homes in Sutton is at a record high. They said the resident does not currently meet the criteria for a transfer but that SHP will continue to review her case based on medical recommendations. They also said they have conducted regular site visits, deep cleaning and tidying of communal areas, including the garden, and hold meetings to update residents.

Local councillor Alison Long (Reform UK) said she has repeatedly raised the resident’s case with SHP without success. She told the LDRS: "I just get ignored. You would expect someone like her, with all the evidence she’s got, to be moved. They just give lots of empty promises."

What happens next

SHP says it will continue to review the resident’s case based on medical recommendations. The resident remains on the waiting list for a Band C property, with a current estimated wait of 10 years. She has been advised to explore mutual exchange options or private rented accommodation, though she says neither is viable.

Sutton Council has not yet responded to requests for further comment on the case or the timeline for addressing the resident’s housing needs.