Residents told to clear homes in tower block

St Francis Tower in Ipswich was evacuated last year due to a serious water leak

Residents of a tower block have been told to clear out their homes during work to repair a severe water leak.

St Francis Tower in Ipswich has suffered several issues in recent years as it undergoes cladding remedial works.

The tower was evacuated last year and residents given financial compensation - but they have now been told to clear out their homes by the end of the week.

Amy Jeffs, who had to end her tenancy agreement over the issues, said she feared becoming homeless.

Amy Jeffs fears she will become homeless after her flat in St Francis Tower was damaged during a water leak

The 36-year-old, who has lived in St Francis Tower for six years, said: "I cry every day, my health is so bad and I don't like to leave the house without anyone.

"At the moment I'm homeless again.

"Me and my partner lived on tinned food for six months to save to move here and I feel like we've gone one step forward, two steps back."

In 2018, the 17-storey building was wrapped in plastic sheeting, which Ms Jeffs likened to living in a "greenhouse" while flammable cladding was removed.

It was hoped the work would be completed by 2022 but completion was pushed back on several occasions.

While work was still ongoing, in July last year the building was evacuated due to a "significant flood" which caused "substantial damage".

Similarly, in December, another water leak on the 13th floor caused damage through six floors below.

Ross Bonner who rented out several of the building's flats, said he was facing "extortionate bills"

Residents have been unable to enter their homes since July and were offered alternative accommodation as well as financial compensation, according to RG Securities (No.2) Ltd, the freeholder of the building.

However, its management company has now written to residents of the affected floors.

Ross Bonner, a landlord who rented out several of the flats, said residents had been told to remove all their belongings before 24 March or risk "having them destroyed".

"They've been given a timescale that is completely unreasonable," he said.

"There are residents on the 10th floor and there are no lifts to use so they're having to carry large items of furniture down."

Mr Bonner said the issues throughout the years had led to a "detrimental" situation.

"We're left with properties we can't let or sell, there's no income coming in from them and there are extortionate bills that rise and rise," he said.

Ms Jeffs had been renting her property from Mr Bonner who she said was a "brilliant" landlord, but said she had cancelled her tenancy agreement due to the issues.

'Distress and inconvenience'

Mr Bonner said the issues throughout the years had led to a "detrimental" situation.

"We're left with properties we can't let or sell, there's no income coming in from them and there are extortionate bills that rise and rise," he said.

RG Securities (No.2) Ltd, the freeholder of the building, said it recognised "the distress and inconvenience caused to residents" and was "working to resolve the issues as quickly as possible".

A spokesman said: “In the case of some apartments, the completion of repairs will require residents to remove their property.

"This has been communicated where appropriate."

They added that it was anticipated that the repair works would be completed by late summer.

"We will continue to provide updates to residents in the meantime," the spokesperson added.