"Residents of a tower block in south London, branded by one as a "hellhole", are being told to leave their homes for about two years after serious defects were uncovered just three years after it opened. Tenants of The Fold in Park Lane, Croydon, say they have endured damp, mould, leaks and sewage, while fire safety flaws mean flats must be stripped back to concrete. Legal & General (L&G), which owns the 251-flat building, apologised and said residents' safety was its "top priority", with support and compensation being offered."
"Works are expected to continue until at least 2027, with residents required to leave by March 2026. Current and past residents of The Fold The Fold, marketed as a high-spec development with a concierge, library and sky lounge, opened in 2022 with rents of 1,480 a month for a one-bedroom flat. At a residents' meeting this week, organised by L&G, property management firm Urbanbubble and tenants' union Acorn, some described being left in unsafe and degrading conditions."
"Many claim they have suffered health problems linked to mould, including coughing, rashes and hospital visits, while others say the reception area flooded regularly and sewage came out of taps and baths. One tenant, Hannah, told about 70 residents gathered at London South Bank University's Croydon campus: "Respect our lives and our time, and let us be free from this hellhole. Ask yourselves if you would be happy to live in that place." Another resident, Dan, said: "No-one told us that the ceiling below us had collapsed, so the mould was growing up from the floor, and my poor cat was being water-tortured by the drip, drip, drip. The poor cat nearly died.""
Residents of The Fold, a 251-flat development in Park Lane, Croydon, have been ordered to leave by March 2026 while remediation works continue until at least 2027. The building opened in 2022 and was marketed as a high-spec development with concierge and amenities. Reported defects include damp, mould, leaks, sewage and fire-safety flaws that require flats to be stripped back to concrete. Tenants report health problems such as coughing, rashes and hospital visits, and degrading living conditions including collapsing ceilings and sewage in baths. Legal & General, which owns the building, apologised and is offering support and compensation.
Read at www.bbc.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]