“I shouldn’t have to live like this” – Beverley’s battle with housing disrepair

“I’ve had lots of problems with damp and mould going back to before 2021. I’ve been having these problems for years and years,” said Beverley. Despite repeatedly reporting the issues to her housing association, L&Q, nothing was done.

“I reported it before 2021 and they said someone would come and look. I called them numerous times but it was like a waiting game. Nobody turned up and nobody ever got back to me.”

The problem grew more serious over time. “The walls in my living room were painted grey but they were white from the mould, no matter what I cleaned it with. The damp was in my bathroom and it spread to the living room and my son’s bedroom.”

One morning when she was about to go out through the door, Beverley tripped and, when she held her hand out to stop herself falling, it went right through the wall. “Until that happened I didn’t realise how bad it was,” said Beverley.

She added: “I wouldn’t let my grandkids stay because I was worried about their health and they wouldn’t come round as often as I would like. The smell was awful.”

“I sat down one morning and I was looking at my wall and I thought I shouldn’t have to live like this,” said Beverley. “My clothes were all damp – I had to throw them all away. I just thought enough is enough.”

She decided to look for help. “I was going through my phone and Liberay came up, talking about housing disrepair. I rang up and spoke to someone. They sent a surveyor to have a look. He was very, very helpful and took photos of all the problems.”

Following our involvement, L&Q accepted liability without the matter going to court. We negotiated a financial settlement for Beverley and the repairs were completed within three months.

“I was put in a hotel,” Beverley explained. “I had to move out for six weeks when they took down my bathroom wall because it had made the wall collapse and it had gone through to my son’s bedroom wall.”

“They have put a proper extractor fan in the bathroom and it’s so much better, especially in my kitchen and bathroom,” she says.

Thanks to Liberay’s involvement, Beverley now has a safer, more comfortable home. She feels relieved knowing she doesn’t have to face her housing association alone.

She has also been reassured about her rights. Tenants in social housing are protected by law from being evicted simply for making a complaint or instructing solicitors. Beverley believes this fear is preventing others on her estate from complaining about similar problems.

“Liberay were very, very good and very supportive. I was so glad I had someone who could help me and get it sorted,” said Beverley. “At least I can live a bit more comfortably in my home, not worrying about damp and mould.

“If I hadn’t have called Liberay, I would still be in the same position now. Nothing would have been done.”