FOR the third summer in a row, residents in a housing association block of flats will look out onto metal poles and wire mesh.

Scaffolding on the Hornsey Street development was erected three years ago so that dangerous cladding could be removed, but residents say they have been left “in limbo” as developer Equans will not tell them when they will take it down.

This means residents, who own the flats through shared-ownership schemes, have no access to the shared terrace and parts of their balconies.

Vincent Casaluci, a retired schoolteacher who has lived in the flat for more than a decade, said: “It’s been very stressful. I can’t believe that our lives get pushed around in the paperwork of someone’s job and no one treats us with any dignity.”

He added: “You can’t take anybody to court, can’t say we’re being denied the right to use our home, you’ve got nothing. You’re in this purgatory, in this limbo, they have all the cards, and they do not treat you fairly on any level.”

Mr Casaluci (above) told the Tribune that they originally discovered problems with the cladding in 2019 when his partner tried to sell her flat. But six years later, their position has not changed. “She’s a bit of a prisoner in her own home. She can’t sell. She couldn’t show people around and say ‘this is what you’re being asked to buy into’,” Mr Casaluci said.

He said that the pair just wanted to “move on”, adding: “I would love for the cats to get their normal life back, chasing butterflies as they used to do.”

Newlon Housing Trust said: “Scaffolding was put up in late 2023 and the main scaffold came down early in December 2024 following the completion of remedial cladding works.

“There are some remaining works to be carried out to restore the communal podium space which was needed as a base for the contractors. We are currently agreeing a schedule for the final stage of these works and will let residents know as soon as this is agreed.

“We have held regular meetings and communicated with our residents throughout the project and will continue to provide updates and respond to any enquiries we receive.

“We are sorry for any inconvenience these essential safety works have caused and want to reassure residents that we are working to complete the final stages as quickly as possible.”

Equans had not responded to request for comment by the time the Tribune went to print.