Milford Towers residents call for action over 'hell' estate

Kellie McKone said her late husband struggled to get about because lifts were often broken

A woman living in a tower block in south-east London has said living in the estate is "hell".

Residents of Milford Towers in Catford, Lewisham, said they had faced problems with mould, break-ins and being trapped without lift access. 

On Wednesday, renters called on Lewisham Council to bring outsourced social housing under public control.

A spokesperson for Lewisham Council said it was "committed" to rectifying the conditions.

Kellie McKone, who lives on the eighth floor, said: "Living on the estate is hell. That's the only word that I can use. It's hell.

"No one would know how it is here unless you live here."

Lewisham Council says it is working to address the issues at Milford Towers

The 44-year-old said her late husband had struggled to leave the building because of the broken lifts.

"To have his dialysis he had to go out, but he was missing the dialysis appointments because of the issues with the lifts," she said.

"He couldn't manage the stairs."

• 'Mouldy flat is making my son sick'

• Social tenants say poor housing is bad for their health

Protesters called on Lewisham Council to tack action

Another resident, who asked to remain anonymous, criticised security on the estate and said she had been attacked by a "total stranger.

"He fly-kicked me and attacked me for no apparent reason," she said.

"I don't know who he is, I wouldn't be able to recognise him even if you were to put him in front of me.

"Since then, I've found it hard to leave the property on my own. It's not safe at all."

She added: "My 20-year-old daughter she doesn't leave the property unless she's going to work."

Residents have reported issues with mould in the properties

A spokesperson for the Notting Hill Genesis housing association said it was only responsible for repairs within individual homes at Milford Towers, and not for lifts, communal areas or external doors.

"We have put in place a dedicated on-site repairs service for residents to use so internal repairs can be dealt with quickly and efficiently," they said.

"We know the council is committed to making Milford Towers safer and more comfortable for everyone living there and will support them in that goal."

An anonymous resident said they felt unsafe living at the block

A spokesperson for Lewisham Council said it recognised conditions at Milford Towers had "fallen below the standards we expect for our estates" and was "committed to rectifying this".

"We are working closely with residents to address these issues and are carrying out extensive improvement works across the estate, investing over £14m to support this work," they said.

They said work would include refurbishing and replacing faulty lifts, repairing roofs, installing new double-glazed windows, cleaning and redecorating communal areas, improving security on the estate and funding security patrols to deter crime and anti-social behaviour.

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