1st March 2023 

A resident in a local retirement housing complex, based in Surbiton and run by Kingston Council, had to live with sewage blocking and spilling out from her toilet for several months. The resident was finally moved, but the problem first reported in July has yet to be be resolved.

Sewage is now seeping out from the vacant flat into the hallway and the entire entrance. Currently, as a result, much of the building smells of human excrement.

Kingston & Surbiton Labour have contacted councillors calling for the issue to be urgently resolved and have enquired why it has taken so long to resolve.

Labour’s Martin Ellis says “It is appalling that residents are having to put up with this. We have been told about how distressing it has been for one elderly resident in particular. This issue is just the latest horror story in a Borough suffering from declining local services and a failure to look after public assets.”

Recently, Kingston & Surbiton Labour has spoken to other residents in the area, some with vulnerable health needs, who have reported such as mould.

Today, the Social Housing Regulation Bill was debated in Parliament. Labour have called for regulatory inspections for all providers no matter how small. Everyone should be able to live in safe, well maintained accommodation with dignity.

“Awaab’s law” will set deadlines for social landlords in England and Wales to tackle reported hazards. Two-year-old Awaab was killed by mould in a social housing flat in Rochdale in 2020.