Portsea tenants say housing association flats are 'pure hell'

Southern Housing Group manages the flats on Kent Street

Some housing association tenants, including a single mother who went without running water for weeks, have described their living situation as "pure hell".

Residents at Cardigan House in Portsea, Portsmouth, have voiced their anger towards Southern Housing Group, which manages their flats.

One occupant said the communal boiler had been classed as "condemned".

Southern Housing Group was contacted for comment.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Scott Beachame, 48, said he had not had heating or hot water in his Hampshire flat since 19 January.

"It's still cold in the property," he said. "We have to put the immersion on for the hot water. I'm only putting it on a little bit - but it's costing a lot."

Mr Beachame said he was told it could take three to six months to fix the problem.

Another resident, who did not want to be named, is a single mother who described her tenancy as "pure hell", after being left without running water for weeks.

"I had to buy big bottles of cold water for us to drink and manually fill up the toilet every time it was used," she said.

She said the problem began on 14 December and that despite phoning Southern Housing Group "non-stop", it was not fixed until 9 January.

"I had heating, hot water and cold water for only 10 days before the communal boiler that's been classed as condemned stopped working," she added.

The mother said she could not afford to use her immersion heater and refused to buy her new-born baby a Moses basket because she was worried about bed bugs.

Stephen Morgan, Labour MP for Portsmouth South, said he was concerned to hear about the living conditions at Cardigan House.

"I take the wellbeing and safety of all constituents extremely seriously, which is why I took immediate action as their MP to contact the EC Roberts Centre and Portsmouth City Council," he explained.

"I will continue to work closely with those involved to secure a resolution for my constituents."

Portsmouth City Council said its private sector housing team had not been made aware of any current problems at the property, but had since made contact with Southern Housing Group.

It added the team was "available to support when residents report disrepair to their landlord and do not receive an adequate response or resolution in a reasonable timescale".

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