‘Fighting for Survival’: Croydon Tenants Left in the Cold
Vulnerable residents at a sheltered housing block in Upper Norwood, Croydon, have described enduring years of neglect, including a winter without reliable heating and effluent leaking down their walls. Despite the modern exterior of 98–176 College Green, which received new cladding and fireproofing in 2021, those living inside say a litany of maintenance issues has been largely ignored by Croydon Council for the past five years.
John Galt, a resident hoping for a peaceful retirement, found his flat flooded with what was later identified as sewage seeping from the ceiling. The leak was left to spread for weeks, eventually interfering with the electrics, flooding a switch box, and cutting off his power before any remediation work began. "I was hoping for a peaceful and relaxing retirement, but instead I find myself fighting for my survival," Mr Galt told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
A Cycle of Broken Promises and Security Fears
Other residents echo this sense of abandonment. William Cayley reported that a promised repair to an automated gate for the bin store, initially scheduled for March, was cancelled, leaving the entrance unsecured for months. "The gate being open like this all the time is a security risk," Mr Cayley said, adding that he has seen strangers loitering near the building. "It's a hell of a problem for all."
Long-term resident Etheline Byfield described a frustrating cycle of raised hopes and disappointment when dealing with repairs. "It's like they don't care," she said, explaining that contractors often make multiple visits before an issue is even partially resolved.
Systemic Heating Failures and Council Apology
The problems extend beyond individual flats. In an email to Croydon North and Streatham MP Steve Reed, Ms Byfield highlighted "severe problems" with the ground source heating system at the neighbouring block, 98–176 College Green. She stated that many residents there have endured "little or no hot water or heating" for nearly five winters, despite surveys, meetings, and repeated council promises dating back to 2020.
The community room remains out of use due to black mould climbing the walls from a leak, damaging a recently fitted carpet. Mr Galt starkly compared the conditions to those that plagued South Norwood's Regina Road flats, which are now slated for redevelopment due to extensive disrepair.
Following years of pressure, including from Local Liberal Democrat councillor Claire Bonham, Croydon Council has issued an apology and promised action. A council spokesperson said: "We are sorry for the disruption caused by ongoing repair issues at College Green." The council confirmed that a complex leak affecting homes has been fixed and that internal repairs are being finished.
For the heating issues, the council is offering electric panel heaters as a temporary solution and has referred the broken gate to a specialist contractor for urgent repair. Councillor Bonham, after a meeting with the council's Corporate Director for Housing, stated that the authority has assured her a "proper programme of works" will now be undertaken, vowing to hold them to account.
