Two children were forced to leave the house due to clogged drains, gardens full of “untreated sewage”, rooms infested with flies and rats.
Their mother, Yaneisi Brito, said that when it rains, they can fall into the water next to a power outlet at their New Cross home.
A caregiver had to send her children to a godmother after her south London home was flooded with sewage, flies and rats.
The drain in the garden of Yaneisi Brito’s three-bedroom home in New Cross has been clogged for the past two years.
Ms Brito said that every time it rained, water entered her house and got near electrical outlets, leaving her worried for her daughter’s safety.
Ms Brito said the garden was leaking raw sewage, which Lewisham Homes called “grey water.”
BBC London correspondent Greg Mackenzie, who visited the house, said that the whole house smelled strongly of mold.
The hood and bathroom were full of black mold and the sofa had to be thrown away due to an infestation of rats.
“It was really scary. The first three years we had a great time, but the last two years were very bad with mold and gardens and the sewers were clogged for about 19 months.”
There is also a problem with the roof, which means when “it’s raining outside and it’s raining at my house.”
Because of this condition, I sent them to the godmother. I had to leave the house in the rain because I didn’t know what to expect.
“No one should live like this at all, because, like me, there will be many families in the same situation,” she added.
However, Lewisham Homes only sent someone to inspect the house and check the drains on Monday after BBC News said he would be visiting the property.
“When the hurricane hit on Sunday, water poured into the children’s bedrooms,” she said, adding that the dirty water in the garden destroyed all the furniture and children’s toys.
In a statement, Lewisham Homes chief executive Margaret Dodwell apologized for the impact of the delayed renovation on Ms Brito and her family.
“We provided the family with alternative housing, cleared a clogged drain in the back garden today, and fixed a manhole in the front garden.
“We know that the problem of water leaks in bathrooms persists, and after the repair of the roof in 2020, further investigation is needed into why water got inside the house after heavy rain.
“We are committed to addressing issues as quickly as possible, and repair crews are on site today and will be back tomorrow.”
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Post time: Oct-27-2022
