'I am losing both my home and my workplace'

Arunee Leerasiri said the stress had been overwhelming

A woman who has been told she must leave her flat after the building was ruled unsafe said she is "set to lose everything".

Arunee Leerasiri bought her flat in a Willow Rise in Kirkby, Merseyside in 2023 and works from home.

Earlier this year the flats, along with another block Beech Rise, were declared unsafe after failures by the building's management companies and agents to carry out required works led to Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service issuing an enforcement notice against the buildings' Responsible Persons.

Now as the prospect of eviction hangs over her, Ms Leerasiri said she is "broken" and overwhelmed by the crisis.

Willow Rise and Beech Rise on Roughwood Drive have been declared unsafe

Residents at the flats, which are comprised of both rental tenants and homeowners, were told they must leave in June.

Although a private development, Knowsley Council had stepped in to fund a "waking watch" service, where the flats were patrolled 24 hours a day to keep residents safe - at a cost of £3,000 a day.

Council leader Graham Morgan said the council had little control over the building and the cost to the council was unsustainable.

He has now asked the government for financial help for flat owners who were at risk of losing everything.

While half of the 160 households had already left, 80 flats were still occupied, mostly by people who owned them or had mortgages on them.

The building was ruled unsafe by Mersey Fire and Rescue Service

Knowsley Council is funding a 'waking watch' service while people are still living there

"I am losing both my home and my work place" Ms Leerasiri said.

"I feel unsafe being here, but I don't know what to do and I don't know what the future holds.

"It's hard not knowing when I will have to move out and who is going to cover my costs.

"I have home insurance but they say because the problem is not with my flat but with the communal areas, I am not covered."

'Traumatic'

Ms Leerasiri said she invested her life savings into the property.

"The stress has been overwhelming. I am not classed as homeless yet so it's hard to find help. How are we expected to live like this?" she said.

"Everything is being taken away from me. Being told to leave so suddenly without any guarantees is traumatic."

Speaking on BBC Radio Merseyside Mr Morgan said it was an "absolutely horrendous situation" and said the council had met with the Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government Alex Norris who was "very sympathetic" and was assessing the situation.

He said a multi-agency meeting was set to take place this week after which residents would be updated.