Flooded flats residents 'still being charged rent'

Katie Symmons says she is still being asked to pay rent despite her flooded home

Residents whose homes in a tower block have been flooded say they are having to pay hundreds of pounds in council rent despite having been moved out.

Dozens of families had to leave the 15-storey Brisbane House in Tilbury last week when a pipe connected to a water tank on the roof flooded the flats below.

Thurrock Council evacuated the building and moved people to temporary accommodation – some outside the borough, including in Basildon and Southend.

Katie Symmons, 28, who lives on the 14th floor of the tower block, said: "I've been told I still have to pay rent or they will put me in rent arrears, and I don't want a debt above my head."

Brisbane House was evacuated on 12 November after the pipe burst, spilling 3,500 litres of water into the flats.

Water supplies to two sister tower blocks – Tasmania House and Fremantle House – were also affected as both are supplied by Brisbane House.

Miss Symmons, who lives in her flat with her daughters, aged seven and two, has managed to stay locally.

She said: "I'm at my mum's as it was the safest place for my children, because with hotels they wanted to send me to Clacton, Chelmsford or Ilford, and I couldn't do that.

"I'm trying to keep strong for my children but obviously it's a massive toll – and on top of Christmas as well. My kids want to go home and there is no home."

She said Thurrock Council had questions to answer over the state of the flats, adding: "I'm still having to pay around £850 a month, which I think is diabolical for [those] flats anyway. All the windows are blown, the flats have mould. They seem to just shrug everyone off. They have got a lot to answer for."

Stevie Barter, from neighbouring Tasmania House, claims the flats are not safe

The flooding has prompted residents of the neighbouring two blocks to speak out about the problems they have faced.

Stevie Barter, 30, moved to Tasmania House seven years ago.

"I moved in April, and by that November my son ended up in hospital with severe pneumonia that was due to the mould and the cold conditions," she said.

"My radiators still don't work, I've got holes in my walls, my kitchen is falling apart, but they just don't care. The flats just need knocking down. It's really not safe for anybody."

Rosie Leeman and Jaime-Lee Church have organised support for their neighbours

When the flooding happened last Wednesday, residents were moved to Tilbury Community Centre, which continues to be a place of support for those unable to return home.

Hundreds of items of clothing, toiletries, shoes and toys have been left at the centre by people from across Thurrock.

Jaime-Lee Church, 24, who lives in Tasmania House, and Rosie Leeman, 30, from Fremantle House, are among the organisers of the support effort.

Miss Church said: "When it was happening I saw out of my window children crying, saying they are not going to get any Christmas presents because Santa hasn't got a house to go to, and it broke my heart.

"I've got really close friends that are now homeless, so I had to do something. You can't just sit down and do nothing."

On the response they have had, she added: "It's amazing what people are doing – all the help, all the donations. It's been emotional."

'We are working with residents'

Thurrock Council did not answer BBC questions about rent payments, but it denied that residents had been "sent away".

A spokesperson said: "No residents have been 'sent' anywhere – we are working with residents to make sure they are safe and secure.

"The majority of temporary accommodation is in the borough. There are also a small number of people in accommodation in Basildon and Southend. Some residents have made their own arrangements to stay with family or friends.

"The council's first priority has been to make sure that residents of Brisbane House are safe and have secure places to stay."

The council added that it was "unhelpful to speculate" on when residents would be able to return to the flats.