Greenwich Council in a growing fire protection scandal in the block of apartments

The Greenwich Council endangers the life of residents in new apartments.

For six months, the inhabitants of the Ignatius Sancho Road estate in Kidbrooke have over blocked fire refugees, dust of construction sites that cause serious health problems, and dangerous air filters that fully violate fire protection laws.

Greenwich Council: Treat the tenant?

Zkiah Smith is 34 and disabled. She moved into the building in November 2024. Shortly afterwards she experienced a “serious deterioration” in her “physical health, emotional well -being and daily functioning” based on:

Bad air quality indoors, unresolved building problems and immediate proximity to an unprotected, dust -producing construction site.

Zkiah said it canary:

Since I lived in this apartment, I have found that my health would go back drastically.

I had a constant running nose and a bloody nose. Excessive sneezing. Wounds in my nose. Extreme nasal swelling to the point where I cannot exhale at all and was diagnosed with severe allergic rhinitis. I had an almost constant cough, itchy eyes, headache, repeated diseases, dry skin and splitting lips. For me, an important allergy and allergy against apples were diagnosed, things that were only a problem until I lived here. I had breath difficulties, tight breast, sore throat and severe sleep disorders.

I also annoyed my existing conditions, such as joint pain, inflammation and anxiety. I had days when my face and my eyes swelled.

Other tenants have also reported serious health concerns, including:

Asthma attacks, nosebleeds, breathing problems, hives, fatigue and repeated hospital visits since tenants of this block.

In a letter from a specialist confirmed that the conditions of insiders Zkiah's apartment significantly influence their health. She said:

For me, an alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency was diagnosed, a genetic lung venerability that makes me a significant risk of permanent damage caused by longer exposure to air pollutants. I have also developed new allergies and a significant deterioration in the existing conditions since I moved into this property.

Zkiah said it canary:

I started asking other tenants and very quickly found that most people had similar symptoms.

It is no longer just about a case dies is a construction-wide environmental health crisis.

Physically inaccessible

Zkiah invested in her personal air purifier. However, when they were clogged after only three weeks instead of the six months they should hold, it became clear to her that the environment made her sick:

Despite Zkiah's documented health conditions and the well -known risks of construction sites, the Council laid it alongside an active location without protective measures. Only months after the move -in, the Council told her about the built -in mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) system, which is supposed to provide fresh, filtered air.

The council did not explain the system and requires regular cleaning, but due to her disabilities, it cannot physically access it. Finally she discovered that it was clogged with “thick gray dust and blackened filters”. Overall, a filter was missing. Zkiah says that this is a clear fire risk, but the Council has not inspected or checked the system since its move -in.

In e -Mails from the Canary, a Housing fighting therapist in the team of disabilities and improvement in the home of the Greenwich Council told Zkiah:

If you have moved into the property, you would have received a manual and there should be information about the MVHR and to change the filter. It is recommended that the residents change this filter themselves – maybe your friend could help?

According to the landlord and tenant law [1985]It is the legal responsibility of the landlords for maintaining the ventilation systems. This includes the proper functioning of ventilation systems.

Prefer your mind

In e -Mails from the canary The same occupational therapist provided a screenshot of a part of an agreement that was allegedly signed by the tenants. Zkiah claims that the council has never asked her to sign one. In addition, the form that a ten -year -old could have created on Microsoft Word – refers “suffering birchere” – which is not even the property in which Zkiah lives.

This raises the question of whether the Council uses the same filters and does not maintain it in other properties.

In film material exclusively for the canaryZkiah recorded subcontractors of i-Mex together with the Housing Liaison Officer of the Greenwich Council about the MVHR units.

I-MEX sub-entrepreneurs can be heard that the power from the units should be switched off before they are cleaned. After you have gone back on it, you will say: “You should always insulate electric things before trying.”

In addition, the Greenwich liaison officer confirms that she is not aware of it. It is important that she has told vulnerable and disabled people to clean the units themselves without switching them off.

In total, ZKIAH had three I-MEX operators, a Durkan connection officer and the Greenwich connection officer for HOOVer two filter-WAS is completely normal behavior. I think you know that we watch.

In the film material, i-Mex also indicates that the outer slits are not checked because it would be “close enough”.

Since then, an independent ventilation expert has checked whether the outdoor areas should actually be checked and cared for regularly, what you can hear in the video.

Fire protection risks

As if it were not sufficiently clogged MVHR units -according to the manufacturer's instructions, the units are also housed in addition to Tumble dryers in non -ventilated rooms without windows. Fire doors often promote during the fire exercises.

As early as January, Zkiah also increased the faulty fire doors with the council. One night she stuck in the cold in a wheelchair. Finally, the fire brigade had to smash the castles because it was a risk of fire, and even an engineer could not repair it. This raises questions about the depth of the inspections and the planning that have entered the building. What would happen in the event of a fire if the doors promote?

Disabled access under Greenwich Council

The claim of Greenwich Council, Zkiah's apartment is a “full -wheel chair -friendly property” – but your mobility scooter does not match the corridors on their bottom of the building. The Council told her by e -mail:

We also have to make it clear that the property is not suitable for your current mobility scooter.

In a separate e -mail, they explained:

[property number] is not suitable for the mobility scooter you have. It is a full -wheel chair -accessible property and part of the best accessible housing stock we have. We certainly understand why your scooter is so important for your independence, but it is essentially an outdoor vehicle, and it is not realistic that you can easily find a property that offers your scooter in social living space in this district.

How can a property be completely accessible if one of the most frequently used disabled aids does not fit?

Ultimately, Zkiah had no other way to accept the apartment.

Greenwich Council says …

In a comment to the canaryA spokesman for the Greenwich Council said:

Everyone should have access to a safe and safe home that meets their needs. Via Greenwich Builds, we deliver 1,750 sustainable new councilors – most of the generation – for the locals on our waiting list.

In the Ignatius Sancho Road, 122 new houses have built and another 330 under construction are under construction, including urgently needed 3 beds and 4 beds family houses, which are to be ended by the end of next year.

We understand that life in addition to building work can be disturbing. The tenants would have been aware that parts of the development were still under construction when they signed their lease. Each house has mechanical ventilation openings that are fully agreed with the building requirements and are approved by building control to ensure that our new developments are as sustainable as possible, which is more environmentally friendly for the environment and are better for the residents who call them at home.

As part of the rental agreement, the tenants take responsibility for cleaning dust and debris from the ventilation openings of their house every few months. However, we will serve the filters in the name of endangered and disabled tenants – now we have been made aware of this. We are aware of the concerns about the door entry system and are working on addressing them as soon as possible to the contractor.

Endangered and a subsequent thought

According to Zkiah, the Greenwich Council not only broke the law on landlords and tenants [1985]but also violate numerous fire protection laws as well as security and quality standards.

She has created an Instagram account to combine residents with similar problems. However, residents should not have to fight their councils just to have habitable, safe social apartments. It is a damn charges that the Greenwich has left Council Zkiah under such terrible living conditions.

They are not only inaccessible, but also active for their health. Again, the security of the residents in social housing is endangered – and the lack of availability of living space is not an excuse. But as always, the needs of disabled people are a subsequent thought – as Zkiah's experience shows only too well.

Feature image about Zkiah Smith