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Leak at housing association property remains 6 months after being reported
10/05/2022
Councillor tells Sanctuary Housing it’s a total failure to protect tenants which they should be ashamed of
Tenants in one of Sanctuary Housing’s Banbury properties have been left for several months with the stench of a drainage leak which has flooded part of their garden. The ongoing issue has been described by one local councillor as “appalling”.
The problem at the home in the Ruscote area was first reported in October. Now, Cherwell District Council looks set to begin enforcement action on Sanctuary Housing unless they take immediate steps to resolve the problem.
The property, which is occupied by a family with children, is one of Sanctuary Housing’s portfolio in Banbury – part of more than 105,000 homes the housing association manages across the country.
Banbury FM has been told that Sanctuary’s representatives promised officers from Cherwell District Council that work to remedy the problem had been ordered and passed to a contractor to complete in January. But four months later the problem remains.
Sanctuary say they did previously offer the family a temporary move until the issue was resolved. They have made the same offer again today.
Councillors Sean Woodcock and Mark Cherry have been pushing for the problem to be fixed. In a message to Sanctuary Housing Councillor Woodcock described the housing provider’s position as a “total failure to protect tenants which you should be absolutely ashamed of”.
Cherwell District Council has now told Sanctuary Housing that they have until the close of business today (May 10) to provide a date when the required repair work will begin.
A spokesperson from Cherwell told Banbury FM: “A housing standards officer from Cherwell District Council inspected the property on 31 January and identified that there was extensive drainage leak which had flooded the front lawn and the rear and side paths with grey water. We understand that the property had been in this condition since October.
“The officer wrote to Sanctuary Housing the same day to request that this was made good and to advise them of other, minor indoor repairs that were needed.
“Sanctuary Housing have until the close of business today (10 May) to provide Cherwell with a date on which their contractor will start the required repair work. If they fail to do so, Cherwell will immediately serve them with a Section 59 Building Act enforcement notice, requiring them to make good the drain. Continued failure to repair the drain could see Cherwell undertake the works and recharge Sanctuary Housing.”
A spokesperson for Sanctuary said: “We are sorry for the time it has taken to resolve this issue and have again offered the family a temporary move into alternative accommodation.
“Further work is planned for the next few days and we will ensure the required repairs are completed as soon as possible.”
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam