Residents revolt over cesspit pong (From Southend Standard)

Been a while since we saw a story presented as one paragraph - and after yesterday's news too...

It stinks, i live very near this building and once or twice a month its bad enough to make you gag.

I smell a rat!

If there's human sewage how can this building be fit for habitation?
Estuary Housing Association should be paying hotel accommodation for everyone in the building the cost would be an incentive to get their finger out.

ORACUS wrote:
If there's human sewage how can this building be fit for habitation?
Estuary Housing Association should be paying hotel accommodation for everyone in the building the cost would be an incentive to get their finger out.

I agree! I actual live in this block too with Liam and the smell is revolting! I've also had several water infections since I moved in here.

Estuary Housing Association should pay for hotel accommodation for us and should also rebate us part of our rent (worked from the time we moved in and when the problems started happening!) I've had to take time of work several times as I also contracted Norovirus and other nasty stomach virus's.

The worst thing is - when they send out people to clear the cesspit - 3 days later after the problem is notified with Estuary, they don't even bother to jet the floors with steam or bleach!

Would appreciate it if someone could recommend a good lawyer who thinks I potentially have a case against them.

* I've subscribed to this story so will be notified when someone writes a message.

The residents should be taking it further than the housing association. If this sewerage has potential to come into contact with any member of the public, be they residents of the property or otherwise, it is a major health issue.

emcee wrote:
The residents should be taking it further than the housing association. If this sewerage has potential to come into contact with any member of the public, be they residents of the property or otherwise, it is a major health issue.

Housing Ombudsmen Service is the next step if this is not rectified and we are not reimbursed accordingly. I might even contact Mark Prisk MP if they don't sort it soon..

SouthendEast wrote:

ORACUS wrote:
If there's human sewage how can this building be fit for habitation?
Estuary Housing Association should be paying hotel accommodation for everyone in the building the cost would be an incentive to get their finger out.

I agree! I actual live in this block too with Liam and the smell is revolting! I've also had several water infections since I moved in here.

Estuary Housing Association should pay for hotel accommodation for us and should also rebate us part of our rent (worked from the time we moved in and when the problems started happening!) I've had to take time of work several times as I also contracted Norovirus and other nasty stomach virus's.

The worst thing is - when they send out people to clear the cesspit - 3 days later after the problem is notified with Estuary, they don't even bother to jet the floors with steam or bleach!

Would appreciate it if someone could recommend a good lawyer who thinks I potentially have a case against them.

* I've subscribed to this story so will be notified when someone writes a message.

If you have been as ill as you say you have, and attribute this to the leaking sewerage, then any lawyer worth his/her salt would say you have a case. There are a couple of solicitors offices down towards the White Horse. Pop in for a quick freebie consultation (most lawyers do this).
Three days before they attempt a remedial clear up is too long and with something like this it should be sorted within hours. If you can, video the problem and, when they come to clean up, try and video them doing the work. If they cut corners you will have proof of such . These days video is a massive tool in situations like this. Use it.

Forgive me if I'm wrong but don't all residential sewers block up if condoms, sanitary towels, baby wipes and cloth material is flushed down the loo?

Unless this sewer system is shared with nearby houses the only place the stuff blocking the system up is coming from must be some of the tenants in the flats themselves.

Little John wrote:
Forgive me if I'm wrong but don't all residential sewers block up if condoms, sanitary towels, baby wipes and cloth material is flushed down the loo?

Unless this sewer system is shared with nearby houses the only place the stuff blocking the system up is coming from must be some of the tenants in the flats themselves.

They shouldn't block at all! - sanitary towels and cloth material should not be flushed down the toilets your right. However its human rights that if you wish to wipe yourself with a "flushable baby wipe" then you should be able to. Some condom packets also state to roll in tissue paper and flush..

your right people should not flush these things but they do and they do it all over the country but it is not every resident in the flats doing it i can assure you .. but the residents are all tarred with the same estuary toilet brush.. there are many problems with this build and costcutting is the common denominator ,,take the heating systems they have installed .NIBE air source heat pumps the star of such shows as "rip off Britain" and more to come ,these systems are payed for by government grants (HCA)and touted as eco friendly to meet schedule 3 of the building regs (so the housing association basically gets them for nothing .....Cute eh )which they no longer meet ?they are less than useless .unless it is above 16 degrees outside your heating and hot water is basically powered by an immersion heater !! very green i am sure .all across the country they are being ripped out and replaced because they are not fit for purpose and literally forcing people into fuel poverty " new lynx housing trust" "penwitha housing asociation""bedfords
hire pilgrims housing association" to name but a few all removing these insane money and energy guzzling monsters and having to financially support their tenants because of the enourmous cost .... guess who estuary are pointing the blame at ..... yep us the tenants for not using it properly !! how can you keep a house warm when the system constantly sucks in cold air and blows out the warm air you have just paid through the nose to be heated and you cant turn them off as we are told that it would cost even more money than leaving them running so much for affordable social housing eh ...... where is the charitable status in that
http://www.bpha.org.
uk/repairsandmainten
ace/documentson nibesystems

or go to loves farm nibe issues on facebook

^ Totally agree! Estuary Housing based in Southend-on-Sea should sort this out. Its been left too long now and needs to have something done about it. Estuary Housing Association - sort this out!

RyanEssex wrote:

Little John wrote:
Forgive me if I'm wrong but don't all residential sewers block up if condoms, sanitary towels, baby wipes and cloth material is flushed down the loo?

Unless this sewer system is shared with nearby houses the only place the stuff blocking the system up is coming from must be some of the tenants in the flats themselves.

They shouldn't block at all! - sanitary towels and cloth material should not be flushed down the toilets your right. However its human rights that if you wish to wipe yourself with a "flushable baby wipe" then you should be able to. Some condom packets also state to roll in tissue paper and flush..

Maybe you see it as human rights to flush baby wipes down the loo even though Estuary has told all tenants that these are blocking up the system. All I know is I wouldn't flush them down my loo as I would be concerned about blocking my drain and would want to avoid the plumbing bill that would come with getting the drain sorted. Not sure where my human rights come into it but hey, if I want to avoid a blockage, I'll have to forgo my human rights on this one I guess. On the other hand, it appears that some of your fellow tenants are not following good advice and are also flushing sanitary towels as well as other unsuitable materials. Estuary is then expected to pick up the tab to get it sorted. What about the rights of Estuary? If I were to stay at a hotel in some countries in Europe there is sometimes a sign to not even flush toilet paper as the pipes are really narrow. and if did block the drain, I would expect a very angry hotel manager asking me to find alternative accommodation. I'm not trying to antagonise. I'm just trying to see both sides of the problem. Seems to me if some of your fellow tenants keep flushing materials that are unsuitable for the residential drains it will make the drains back up. It's as simple as that. Estuary can't be expected to keep paying out a plumber because of a few tenants that will not follow instructions.

Little John wrote:

RyanEssex wrote:

Little John wrote:
Forgive me if I'm wrong but don't all residential sewers block up if condoms, sanitary towels, baby wipes and cloth material is flushed down the loo?

Unless this sewer system is shared with nearby houses the only place the stuff blocking the system up is coming from must be some of the tenants in the flats themselves.

They shouldn't block at all! - sanitary towels and cloth material should not be flushed down the toilets your right. However its human rights that if you wish to wipe yourself with a "flushable baby wipe" then you should be able to. Some condom packets also state to roll in tissue paper and flush..

Maybe you see it as human rights to flush baby wipes down the loo even though Estuary has told all tenants that these are blocking up the system. All I know is I wouldn't flush them down my loo as I would be concerned about blocking my drain and would want to avoid the plumbing bill that would come with getting the drain sorted. Not sure where my human rights come into it but hey, if I want to avoid a blockage, I'll have to forgo my human rights on this one I guess. On the other hand, it appears that some of your fellow tenants are not following good advice and are also flushing sanitary towels as well as other unsuitable materials. Estuary is then expected to pick up the tab to get it sorted. What about the rights of Estuary? If I were to stay at a hotel in some countries in Europe there is sometimes a sign to not even flush toilet paper as the pipes are really narrow. and if did block the drain, I would expect a very angry hotel manager asking me to find alternative accommodation. I'm not trying to antagonise. I'm just trying to see both sides of the problem. Seems to me if some of your fellow tenants keep flushing materials that are unsuitable for the residential drains it will make the drains back up. It's as simple as that. Estuary can't be expected to keep paying out a plumber because of a few tenants that will not follow instructions.

You are right in what you are saying mate i totally agree with you but some people just don't care I am sure it is only a couple as the majority of inmates here are good people.ultimately it will be us that has to pay via the service charge . The problem with people is they don't always do as they are supposed to hence the need for a police force ,but it has and is happening so needs to be addressed by either stopping it at the culprits u bend or fitting a macerator ,which in all honesty should have been fitted as standard ,this is always the scenario when you cut corners in this way extremely short sighted but in my opinion the blame lies with the developer Higgins who would appear to have taken estuary for a ride at every opportunity the build quality of this place is shocking

The waste collection tank, in question has been filled, and blocked by the residents, not adhering to waste instruction, thus it cannot, nor ever will be the responsibility, of Estuary to sort it out.
It's common problem, with multi occupant
properties, with everything from sanitary towels, to nappies, to food being flushed.
In truth the occupants just flush what they like, when they like, then moan about the blocked drainage systems.

sick and tired wrote:

Little John wrote:

RyanEssex wrote:

Little John wrote:
Forgive me if I'm wrong but don't all residential sewers block up if condoms, sanitary towels, baby wipes and cloth material is flushed down the loo?

Unless this sewer system is shared with nearby houses the only place the stuff blocking the system up is coming from must be some of the tenants in the flats themselves.

They shouldn't block at all! - sanitary towels and cloth material should not be flushed down the toilets your right. However its human rights that if you wish to wipe yourself with a "flushable baby wipe" then you should be able to. Some condom packets also state to roll in tissue paper and flush..

Maybe you see it as human rights to flush baby wipes down the loo even though Estuary has told all tenants that these are blocking up the system. All I know is I wouldn't flush them down my loo as I would be concerned about blocking my drain and would want to avoid the plumbing bill that would come with getting the drain sorted. Not sure where my human rights come into it but hey, if I want to avoid a blockage, I'll have to forgo my human rights on this one I guess. On the other hand, it appears that some of your fellow tenants are not following good advice and are also flushing sanitary towels as well as other unsuitable materials. Estuary is then expected to pick up the tab to get it sorted. What about the rights of Estuary? If I were to stay at a hotel in some countries in Europe there is sometimes a sign to not even flush toilet paper as the pipes are really narrow. and if did block the drain, I would expect a very angry hotel manager asking me to find alternative accommodation. I'm not trying to antagonise. I'm just trying to see both sides of the problem. Seems to me if some of your fellow tenants keep flushing materials that are unsuitable for the residential drains it will make the drains back up. It's as simple as that. Estuary can't be expected to keep paying out a plumber because of a few tenants that will not follow instructions.

You are right in what you are saying mate i totally agree with you but some people just don't care I am sure it is only a couple as the majority of inmates here are good people.ultimately it will be us that has to pay via the service charge . The problem with people is they don't always do as they are supposed to hence the need for a police force ,but it has and is happening so needs to be addressed by either stopping it at the culprits u bend or fitting a macerator ,which in all honesty should have been fitted as standard ,this is always the scenario when you cut corners in this way extremely short sighted but in my opinion the blame lies with the developer Higgins who would appear to have taken estuary for a ride at every opportunity the build quality of this place is shocking

Sounds like a few tenants are completely screwing it up for the rest of you. Is there a way to have some kind of meeting with all of the residents to thrash this out? Maybe Estuary might help with the setting up and venue of this meeting if they are approached in a reasonable manner. I'm not suggesting a meeting where a possible culprit is abused in public as the evidence does suggest one of the culprits is possibly a woman with small children. That won't get anyone anywhere. I'm suggesting a meeting to paint the picture to all and hope that the message sinks in. If things don't go to plan after that, how about arranging with Estuary for all flats with small children to have a filter installed. The blockage will only block their system (if it is a woman with children). They could then be evicted and a better house trained tenant could take over the property. I'm sure Estuary would be prepared to go the extra mile on this as to not will leave the situation as it is which is costing them more money in the long run. Is this filter what you calling a macerator?

Carnabackable wrote:
The waste collection tank, in question has been filled, and blocked by the residents, not adhering to waste instruction, thus it cannot, nor ever will be the responsibility, of Estuary to sort it out.
It's common problem, with multi occupant
properties, with everything from sanitary towels, to nappies, to food being flushed.
In truth the occupants just flush what they like, when they like, then moan about the blocked drainage systems.

You are right this is a very common problem so why was this not factored into the equation during design and build ? Simply fitting something like a macerator pump or similar would have prevented this COMMON problem . And wether they like it or not it will always be estuarys responsibility . The local authority has the power to enforce them to maintain it properly

"Your landlord must keep the property you live in safe and free from health hazards." - https://www.gov.uk/p
rivate-renting/repai
rs

Procedure for withholding rent over repairs: - http://england.shelt
er.org.uk/get_advice
/repairs_and_bad_con
ditions/disrepair_in
_rented_accommodatio
n/repairs_in_social_
housing/withholding_
rent_over_repairs.

Its Estuary Housing Associations responsibility to ensure that these issues are adhered to in conjunction with the Environmental Agency Health & Safety Guidelines. At present they are not, Estuary Housing Association has been aware of these problems for the last 14 months and has not attempted to act nor rectify the problems. Thus I as a tenant will have no other alternative to contact the Housing Ombudsmen Service to create a dispute and separately file a law suit against them in order to receive some compensation for their sheer incompetence and dismissive nature to the situation.

http://www.estuary.c
o.uk/ - Estuary Housing Association, Southend-on-Sea, Housing Association Southend.

Little John wrote:

sick and tired wrote:

Little John wrote:

RyanEssex wrote:

Little John wrote:
Forgive me if I'm wrong but don't all residential sewers block up if condoms, sanitary towels, baby wipes and cloth material is flushed down the loo?

Unless this sewer system is shared with nearby houses the only place the stuff blocking the system up is coming from must be some of the tenants in the flats themselves.

They shouldn't block at all! - sanitary towels and cloth material should not be flushed down the toilets your right. However its human rights that if you wish to wipe yourself with a "flushable baby wipe" then you should be able to. Some condom packets also state to roll in tissue paper and flush..

Maybe you see it as human rights to flush baby wipes down the loo even though Estuary has told all tenants that these are blocking up the system. All I know is I wouldn't flush them down my loo as I would be concerned about blocking my drain and would want to avoid the plumbing bill that would come with getting the drain sorted. Not sure where my human rights come into it but hey, if I want to avoid a blockage, I'll have to forgo my human rights on this one I guess. On the other hand, it appears that some of your fellow tenants are not following good advice and are also flushing sanitary towels as well as other unsuitable materials. Estuary is then expected to pick up the tab to get it sorted. What about the rights of Estuary? If I were to stay at a hotel in some countries in Europe there is sometimes a sign to not even flush toilet paper as the pipes are really narrow. and if did block the drain, I would expect a very angry hotel manager asking me to find alternative accommodation. I'm not trying to antagonise. I'm just trying to see both sides of the problem. Seems to me if some of your fellow tenants keep flushing materials that are unsuitable for the residential drains it will make the drains back up. It's as simple as that. Estuary can't be expected to keep paying out a plumber because of a few tenants that will not follow instructions.

You are right in what you are saying mate i totally agree with you but some people just don't care I am sure it is only a couple as the majority of inmates here are good people.ultimately it will be us that has to pay via the service charge . The problem with people is they don't always do as they are supposed to hence the need for a police force ,but it has and is happening so needs to be addressed by either stopping it at the culprits u bend or fitting a macerator ,which in all honesty should have been fitted as standard ,this is always the scenario when you cut corners in this way extremely short sighted but in my opinion the blame lies with the developer Higgins who would appear to have taken estuary for a ride at every opportunity the build quality of this place is shocking

Sounds like a few tenants are completely screwing it up for the rest of you. Is there a way to have some kind of meeting with all of the residents to thrash this out? Maybe Estuary might help with the setting up and venue of this meeting if they are approached in a reasonable manner. I'm not suggesting a meeting where a possible culprit is abused in public as the evidence does suggest one of the culprits is possibly a woman with small children. That won't get anyone anywhere. I'm suggesting a meeting to paint the picture to all and hope that the message sinks in. If things don't go to plan after that, how about arranging with Estuary for all flats with small children to have a filter installed. The blockage will only block their system (if it is a woman with children). They could then be evicted and a better house trained tenant could take over the property. I'm sure Estuary would be prepared to go the extra mile on this as to not will leave the situation as it is which is costing them more money in the long run. Is this filter what you calling a macerator?

No a macerator or the like breaks down solids and similar nasties and we have tried the meetings with estuary to get basic problems sorted out but to no avail unfortunately , the tenants that don't care don't come, it's such a shame because this could be a lovely place to live

Perhaps Estuary Housing Association should provide free All Bran to the residents as well.

Fewer "teddy bears legs" would probably ease the problem as well.

We appreciate that residents living in the Courtyard Scheme are suffering due to unpleasant smells from the sewage system and because of this we are working with Higgins Construction to improve the current system to prevent future blockages and smells. We are also arranging for the tank to be emptied periodically which will assist with the problem whilst we seek a longer term solution.

We are regularly reminding residents about the correct use of the system and asking them to refrain from flushing wet wipes and other items down the w.c. as this is the main reason for the system blocking. Following a previous spillage, we jet washed the area and will continue to do so if this happens again.

We have been holding regular meetings with residents since October last year to ensure that they are kept fully updated by senior staff. At these meetings we address any issues residents are experiencing and agree an action plan.

Estuary Housing Association want to ensure residents living at the Courtyard are satisfied that their issues are being taken seriously and addressed at a senior level.

At these meetings residents voice their concerns ,action plans are drawn up then nothing happens .residents are not satisfied that their concerns are being addressed and they are certainly not taken seriously

BBC ONE - NOW - RIP OF BRITAIN , COVERING THE NIBE BOILERS THAT ARE ALSO AT THIS DEVELOPMENT.

http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=Q0iCEFRhL
Sk&feature=youtu.be