A mother living in Peckham’s Sylvan Grove council block has told of how despite being a two-year old new build, her son’s bedroom is covered in black mould after constant leaks since February.
The new block, near Old Kent Road, was completed in 2018, with Southwark Council describing the flats as ‘built to the highest specification’.
Originally planned as a mix of shared ownership homes, 21 at social rent, and nine ‘affordable’ rentals, the entire development was then parched for council housing. All were offered first to residents of the Ledbury Estate who had to leave their homes due to gas safety fears.
But two years on resident Robyn West told the News that since a leak appeared in February in her son’s bedroom she has been forced to play a ‘cat and mouse game’ with Tooley Street’s repairs service.
In a series of videos posted on Twitter, she walks through her four-year-old son’s room where the flooring – floorboards over concrete – has almost turned entirely black after being sodden for months.
There are watermarks around the windows, above plug sockets now out of use, and a whole section of skirting board has crumbled away.
The problems are now spreading into her hallway and kitchen, with watermarks from leaks on her kitchen ceiling.
“They gave me two humidifiers but it doesn’t do anything but rack up a huge bill for me,” she said.
The problems are believed to be caused by an underfloor leaking pipe – but this doesn’t explain marks and leaks from above.
And even though the entire floor is mouldy, Ms West has been told only one section of it will be replaced.
“I’ve been round and round in circles. I’m told lie after lie, excuse after excuse. I’m sick of it, my son is always unwell,” she said.
Southwark Council has been approached for comment.