Long-time residents feel ‘ignored’ as new homes are completed on estate
Concerns over damp, mould and safety, amid claims council has failed to maintain properties
Friday, 14th March — By Daisy Clague
Councillors and residents on the Andover Estate
ISLINGTON Council celebrated the completion of new homes on the Andover Estate this week, but long-time Andover residents continue to complain of damp, mould and security concerns that they say have been ignored for years.
Works began on the estate four years ago, with 22 new homes – a mixture of much-needed two- and three-bedroom homes – now completed and occupied, and a further 20 expected by the end of March.
The council says it has prioritised existing Andover residents for the new properties, all of which are now occupied with people who have moved from elsewhere on the estate, freeing up other homes to be re-let.
Priscilla Kafari, one of the new tenants, said: “We were thrilled to move in, our new home feels so much brighter and more spacious. My children have room to grow, and they can stay at the same school and spend time with their friends. We absolutely love it.”
But while the council promoted its win, around 25 Andover residents were meeting with housing union ACORN on Tuesday, citing failures in the council’s upkeep of their homes and organising to get their voices heard.
Head of ACORN in Islington, Fredi Gentz, said: “Residents across the estate are organising with ACORN to tackle ongoing security concerns, widespread damp and mould and complaints of the estate being ignored for years.”
The Town Hall noted that all the new homes on Andover include private back gardens, and convenient access to new a play park and community garden.
Housing chief, Councillor John Woolf, said: “We’re creating safe, decent and genuinely affordable places to call home for residents in our community, ensuring that local people in greatest need benefit first from new developments.
“We are investing £15m to tackle causes of damp on the estate. Andover is huge, home to thousands of residents, so this is a big project. This will include adding ventilation, increasing insulation, roofing and gutter repairs.
“We would welcome the chance to discuss any concerns residents have so we can assess if there is any further work we can do to tackle damp or security issues on the estate and to communicate the work we are already doing.”
