On July 2020, a tenant reported a repair to Origin Housing about the backflow/overflow she was experiencing in her kitchen. Origin were not able to locate the cause of the problem, appointments to repair were made but they never turned up. Origin has left the tenant to manage the leak by herself.
The tenant is old and disabled, managing the constant forceful rancid surges was proving difficult and not something by all accounts that should be expected.
Since July 2020 til now the issue has not been rectified. During that time, exhausting all channels with Origin, the tenant sourced a reputable firm of Solicitors that took the case on. Origin also appointed their own Solicitor. In most circumstances Solicitors should communicate with each other.
However, Origin has not only chosen to ignore the tenant, but has also ignored communications with the tenants appointed Solicitor. They have failed to forward supporting documents or move forward to repair the tenants property.
In the time that Origin has allowed the tenants home to deteriorate, the dilapidation eventually found its way to the floor beneath, that of a commercial property. A mini supermarket store from a larger chain operates directly below the floor where a level of tenants reside.
This store has recently been experiencing leaks within and outside their building. As this is a big corporation Origin have only now realised the extent and consequence of their malpractice and incompetence in dealing with serious disrepair issues. In a desperate bid to appease the mini supermarket who could sue, due to this now becoming a public health and safety issue to their customers and staff, Origin Housing employed bullying tactics and heavy handed measures, even attempting to force entry into the home of the Tenant that originally highlighted the level of disrepair.
Other tenants and the communal area have been experiencing the terrible effects of the leak, yet Origin Housing has singled out and targeted this tenant in particular. They have been misleading, harassing and none co-operative. Despite having Solicitors and having policies in place, Origin Housing took it upon themselves to force entry into the tenants home. Origin have made it abundantly clear, numerous times that the tenants disrepair and health issues are not their concern. Their primary objective is to safeguard the leaseholders, the mini supermarket and evade any culpability. Therefore the tenant has become a pawn, a sacrificial lamb in this situation.
Even to this day the tenant who is still living with what is now believed to be sewage leaks under her flat, that have risen up the walls in every room, not to mention the constant foul smell that even contractors have remarked upon, has not had anything rectified, despite calling out emergency repairs multiple times.
The toll it has taken on her health both physically and mentally is beyond comprehension, due to the health implications and level of disrepair her flat is no longer fit for habitation. This leak is not isolated to the tenants level, the whole building has been leaking like a sieve and Origin Housing have been aware.
