Big Brother housemate: 'My flat is a fire hazard'

Trish Balusa said it was "a shock" to come back to her home in Luton after being in the Big Brother house

A former Big Brother contestant has criticised a converted office block in which she lives with her autistic son, calling the building a "fire hazard" and a "ghetto".

Trish Balusa, 34, who appeared on the ITV show last year, said some of the windows in her privately-rented flat in Shire House, Luton, do not open and she had no fire alarm.

One resident said a ceiling had fallen in on a child's bedroom and others raised mould and leakage problems.

The landlords are appealing against Luton Borough Council enforcement action issued over unauthorised development. They said that "a comprehensive fire risk assessment" had been carried out and blamed mould on residents "tampering with ventilation systems".

Trish Balusa privately rents a two-bedroom flat in Shire House, Luton

Ms Balusa said she moved to a two-bedroom flat in Shire House from London in 2021, along with her six-year-old son.

On arrival, she said: "What the hell?", claiming the heaters were not working and there was mould in the bathroom.

She also said some of the windows did not open and there was no fire alarm, despite the landlords' claims that "all flats are fitted with a smoke alarm".

Ms Balusa described the building of more than 100 flats, which was converted in 2018-19, as a "ghetto" and that there were issues around anti-social behaviour.

"It could be the next Grenfell Tower, as fire engines are coming regularly," she said.

Residents at Shire House said fire engines were regularly called out to deal with incidents

Talking about her experience in the Big Brother house, she said it was "like a breath of fresh air" and "a little bit of a holiday".

However, it was "a shock to come back to this reality", and she added that the show was "the best and the worst thing" she had done.

She had hoped to win some money to put a deposit down on her own home, but she became the eighth contestant to be evicted, with Jordan Sangha eventually finishing first.

She said the Big Brother house was "nicer" and "cleaner" than Shire House, where she did not feel safe "as anything can happen at any point".

"It is a nightmare living here with a child with autism. It's affected our mental health and sleep, as you cannot be at peace," she said.

Naima Stitou said the ceiling in a children's bedroom has collapsed four times

Other residents placed at Shire House by London councils have also voiced serious safety concerns.

Naima Stitou said "our flat has been plagued by mould and leakage problems", including a bedroom ceiling that had collapsed four times.

"Despite repairs, the conditions worsened, culminating in the collapse of [a ceiling in] a children's bedroom," she said.

In response, the landlord said: “We can confirm that all repair works were carried out at [the] flat in February once we were informed and granted access.”

Shalini Thangarasa, 38, said: "Fire engines are coming all the time, for cookers and heaters."

She described the property as a "jail", and added that no windows opened and there was "not enough air".

Trish Balusa said some of her windows did not open and the property was a fire hazard

The landlord told the BBC that "all flats are fitted with a smoke alarm" and "a comprehensive fire risk assessment" was carried out.

They added that "flats have adequate ventilation", but blamed tenants for "tampering with the ventilation systems".

"The management agent is constantly reminding tenants about the concerns of drying clothes indoors," they said.

"Any appearance of mould or staining is dealt with as soon as reasonably practicable."

Luton Borough Council said it had issued an enforcement notice against the landlord over unauthorised development, which has resulted in inadequate access to natural light, ventilation and poor outlook.

"The landlord has appealed against the decision and there will now be a public inquiry, which is scheduled to start on the 3 September," it said.

Resident Naima Stitou said her flat has been plagued by mould and leakage problems