Hundreds of residents in blocks of flats in east London have been left without regular running water for more than seven months after development in the area may have left it without an adequate supply. Taps have been running dry in nine blocks in Tower Hamlets, where residents have been forced to use bottled water while their landlord, the housing association Poplar Harca, delayed works to solve the problem. In the meantime, hundreds of families have been unable to properly cook, clean, wash or even flush their toilets.
Residents, who are bracing for a fifth heatwave this week, say they are still in the dark about why their water suddenly stopped – although some suspect it is because of new housing developments built nearby. It’s a gross failure of one of the most fundamental duties a landlord owes to their tenants – especially during record-breaking heatwaves. Residents deserve nothing less than an urgent and permanent fix.” Poplar Harca acknowledges “pressure levels can fluctuate” but denies the water supply has ever stopped completely.
Residents who spoke to the Guardian said they first began experiencing water shortages last summer. By December, the problems had become widespread, with at least nine blocks affected. In correspondence with residents, seen by the Guardian, Poplar Harca initially claimed the problem lay with the water supplier.
The housing association claimed Thames Water was supplying “lower flow pressures than in previous years”. But at the same time, Poplar Harca was also telling other residents that their flats needed “extensive works” to create a new pump room in their block to increase water pressure. The landlord said these works could not begin until a formal process – called section 20 – was carried out to determine what share of the cost should be borne by leaseholders.
In common with social housing blocks around the UK, some flats have been purchased by their residents under the right to buy. Those homeowners must share the costs of the blocks’ upkeep. When major works are planned the freeholder must carry out a consultation to determine how much leaseholders should contribute.
Poplar Harca suggested there was no need for emergency action from a judge but a property solicitor the Guardian spoke to said that may not be the case. Clair Phillips, a senior associate at the law firm Moore Barlow, said: “In circumstances where works are urgent, such as a prolonged loss of water supply, one would ordinarily expect the landlord to undertake the necessary works without delay and then apply to the first-tier tribunal for [urgent] dispensation from the section 20 consultation requirements.” In the meantime, Poplar Harca told residents – including families and those classed as vulnerable – to access public shower facilities at Poplar Baths and by expensing day passes at Mile End leisure centre. Residents, many of whom are parents with young children, or are elderly or disabled, said this was not an acceptable solution.
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