A mother and daughter in Islington say drug users have “taken over” their block of flats, leaving them “prisoners in our own home” and accusing their landlord of a “dereliction of duty”. The pair, who face eviction over rent arrears, claim repeated pleas to housing association London and Quadrant Housing Trust (L&Q) have not been properly answered.
Residents describe 'dangerous' intruders and constant fear
The elderly mother, identified only as Ms Fagan, and her chronically ill adult daughter, Miss McCabe, live at Epping Place in Barnsbury. They say mostly male intruders, often hooded or masked, threaten and intimidate occupants while turning communal areas into a hotbed for substance misuse and drug dealing. The women say they are “petrified” for their safety, with unknown drug users coming and going at all hours, leaving them too scared to leave their flat.
“We’re prisoners in our own home,” Ms Fagan told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS). The residents allege groups repeatedly try to force entry into the block and their own home by attacking doors and tampering with electrics to disable locking systems.
Videos show bypassing of security measures
The LDRS has seen videos and CCTV footage showing men loitering outside, appearing to use illicit substances, kicking at doors, and entering after yanking the back door. The residents, who have reported the problem to police, claim the men bypass locked communal doors using fire brigade keys or by switching off the door entry circuit breaker in the electricity cupboard. “Anyone can buy these keys online,” Ms Fagan said.
Records seen by the LDRS show staff considered placing a cage around the electrical consumer unit to prevent tampering, but supervisors rejected the idea due to health and safety fears. L&Q, however, says it regularly meets with police and Islington Council to “report and address any concerns raised”.
Impact on daily life and health
Miss McCabe said the situation has left them “scared to even go to the bin area” in broad daylight due to mess and anti-social behaviour. “L&Q are never in this building,” she claimed. “We put on the manual alarm to try and scare [intruders] away but they just walk off and come straight back.”
The pair say intruders have threatened L&Q staff, and that one fire officer abandoned a safety inspection in October 2025 and took refuge in their flat. Despite their pleas over stress and sleepless nights, they claim the association has ignored “hundreds” of incident logs, cancelled emergency security orders, and removed locks from the building.
Worsening conditions after fire and eviction threat
The situation worsened after a severe fire in a neighbouring flat in 2025, after which its front door and windows were unlocked for weeks, allowing men to “climb in” to loot or take drugs, they claim. The charred, empty property was never cleaned, leaving residents “trailing toxic soot and ash” in corridors, while another communal door was left off its hinges for “roughly a year”.
Miss McCabe has been due for a series of operations for chronic illnesses. Doctors have written several letters to the landlord—all seen by the LDRS—asking for them to be rehoused due to the impact of “extreme anti-social behaviour”, “harassment”, and persistent leaks inside the flat on her physical recovery and mental health.
L&Q insists it has enhanced safety at the block, offered rehousing options, and carried out cleaning works—claims disputed by the tenants. The landlord said all external doors were reported secure during their last visit in August 2026, and that it has advised Ms Fagan of alternative housing options. However, the LDRS understands L&Q is now seeking possession of the pair’s home through the courts over rent arrears. The tenants say their account was in credit until the recent period of serious illness and medical operations.
Charlie Culshaw, Director of Housing Management at L&Q, said: “We take all reports of antisocial behaviour very seriously. We’re sorry for the difficult experience that Ms Fagan and her daughter have had. We regularly meet with the police and local authority to report and address any concerns raised. We’ve put in place measures to improve security at Epping Place and help residents feel safe in their homes. This has included repairing the main entrance door, increasing visits from our housing management team, and working with the police to increase patrols in and around the building. We understand the impact situations like this can have on residents and will continue to support Ms Fagan, working with local partners to monitor the situation and take action where necessary.”
