Social Housing Tenant's 16-Month Nightmare Over Mouldy Flat with Animal Feces
A social housing tenant has described feeling "abused" by her landlord during a grueling 16-month fight against appalling living conditions that began when she moved into a flat filled with animal feces, mould, and broken heating.
Natasha Dyett, a trader at Archway Market, arranged a mutual property exchange from Woolwich to escape domestic abuse, hoping to find safety near her family in Islington. Instead, she and her three sons arrived at the Archway Heights development to discover a scene of utter neglect.
Horrific Discovery on Move-In Day
The family encountered:
- Animal feces scattered across the floor
- Furniture abandoned by previous tenants throughout the flat
- Significant holes in walls and ceilings
- Pervasive damp and mould growth
- A completely non-functional central heating and hot water system
Ms Dyett, who suffers from asthma, immediately recognized the health hazards and began what would become a protracted battle with her landlord, Origin Housing.
Ombudsman Intervention and Inadequate Response
After enlisting help from housing union ACORN, Ms Dyett took her case to the industry ombudsman, which found Origin Housing guilty of maladministration. The ombudsman ordered repair work and compensation, but Ms Dyett says the response has been woefully inadequate.
"It's been an absolute nightmare that has caused me a lot of trauma," Ms Dyett told the Tribune. "I escaped domestic abuse to come and be safe near my family. All that just to be gaslit and given the run-around and abused by my landlords."
The family endured over a year without reliable central heating, and even after "repairs," the system only works sporadically. Structural issues persist, including mould in her son's bedroom that remains unaddressed.
Compensation That Feels Like "A Slap in the Face"
Despite legal action, Ms Dyett has received just over £3,000 in compensation so far, an amount she describes as insulting given the family's suffering and her own expenses addressing the problems. Origin's latest offer was a mere additional £350 and an apology.
"They have actually been ordered to complete all the repairs to the flat by tomorrow, but time and time again they just do nothing and ignore me," she said. "It makes me sick because I know that even when I do finally get everything sorted, the fight is not over."
Systemic Problems Across the Housing Block
Ms Dyett's situation reflects broader issues at Archway Heights. She reports that other residents have expressed similar despondency, feeling helpless against a system that seems unaccountable.
Dan Newcombe, London branch organizer for ACORN, who is helping pressure Origin, explained: "Although they claim to be not-for-profit, housing associations generally often have CEOs on roughly £100,000 a year. They often have millions of pounds in reserves, and so their status and lack of regulation leads to really bad standards, a big lack of accountability."
Together, Ms Dyett and ACORN are organizing a block-wide campaign to address tenant issues with Origin Housing.
Origin Housing's Response
An Origin spokesperson stated: "We are very sorry for the distress Ms Dyett and her family have experienced after moving into the property following a home swap with the previous tenant. The condition of the flat was not to the standard it should have been, and we didn't then carry out required repairs in a timely way."
The spokesperson confirmed they have paid the compensation ordered by the Ombudsman and that a senior surveyor has met with Ms Dyett to agree on a detailed repairs plan. Regarding broader block issues, they cited awaiting required approvals from the Building Safety Regulator for remedial work following storm damage.
Ms Dyett, who previously worked five years as a social housing administrator, believes housing associations like Origin can duck scrutiny and accountability due to their independence from councils. "It's time for Origin to show some accountability and answer for their actions," she declared. "They deserve to be shown up in public for the things they've done and continue to do."
