A soon-to-be father narrowly escaped serious injury when the ceiling collapsed in his cockroach-infested shared home in Mitcham, prompting his MP to intervene. Telecoms engineer Shem Barnes-Smith, 30, says the house in multiple occupation (HMO) is in such a state of disrepair that he feels he has failed his daughter before she is born.
On October 24, Barnes-Smith was watching TV when he heard a "loud bang" as the ceiling fell through. "I thought someone was breaking in," he said. Water is now pouring through the ceiling, and he uses pots and pans to catch it and prevent it from soaking into the floor.
The property also has a toilet shared between four people that he describes as faeces-ridden, and a cockroach problem he has tried to address at his own expense. His MP, Dame Siobhain McDonagh, is now involved in the fight to get him somewhere safe to live.
Inspectors 'too scared' to assess damage
Barnes-Smith says he called his housing provider, Aves Housing, immediately after the ceiling collapse. He told MyLondon that someone came to inspect the damage early the next morning, but when they saw how bad the property was, they were "too scared" to actually inspect it. Another inspector from Aves never appeared.
He has had to spend £50 on a machine to remove water from his room. "This is gross negligence. I haven't slept in three days, and I'm constantly vacuuming water out of my room," he said. "I'm very miserable, very miserable. I don't want to do anything. I'm moody with people; I haven't been out. I feel let down and like Aves doesn't care."
Barnes-Smith says water has been seeping down his wall due to a leak in the roof for a long time. He claims he has complained to Aves over 100 times in the last three years, but nothing has been done to fix the problem. "It feels like I can't progress in life. I'm shackled to a rock in a deep hole," he added.
Living conditions take toll on mental health
Barnes-Smith has been diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety, and insomnia as a result of the conditions. He says the situation has left him distraught and embarrassed, particularly as he worries he does not have a "safe and comfortable place" to bring his child when she is born.
"It makes me feel like I can't provide or be or do be right by my child," he said. He takes great pride in keeping his room tidy and has slammed Aves Housing for "gross negligence."
MP and council respond to housing concerns
Dame Siobhain McDonagh, MP for Mitcham and Morden, said Aves Housing is well aware of the situation its tenants are in but has yet to do anything about it. She said: "Aves Housing is well known to me and my office. I can fully understand Mr Barnes-Smith's concerns regarding the condition of his property and the anti-social behaviour he has experienced. I have been in contact with Aves and with Merton Council and have asked that Environmental Health visit the property at the earliest opportunity."
A Merton Council spokesperson said: "Merton Council is concerned to hear about the issues faced by the resident. The council contacted Mr Barnes-Smith to arrange a visit to assess the damage. We will follow up on this as a priority. If the council finds any breaches of housing standards by the housing provider, it will take swift action."
An Aves Housing spokesperson said: "We are sorry that Mr Barnes-Smith has had such a difficult experience, particularly following the storm damage to his room on 24 October. His safety and wellbeing matter to us. Since the leak was reported, we have offered him alternative accommodation on several occasions and are working with MOAT Housing Association, which is responsible for the roof, to complete the necessary repairs. We are also reviewing how we responded on the night of the storm and the other concerns he has raised. We have offered to meet with him to agree a plan to address his concerns and put things right."
