A couple who invested £350,000 in a newly constructed home in east London claim they were deceived into purchasing a flawed property, as they have battled with dampness, mold, and water intrusion for over a decade, fearing they may never escape their predicament.
Syed Alam and his wife Sahela are among several residents of the Brooklime House development in Homerton, Hackney, who suspect that a structural defect in the building is the root cause of their ongoing issues.
Syed, 52, expressed his concerns about water intrusion and other defects to Hackney Council during his initial property viewing with regeneration consultants in 2015. However, the council assured him that these problems would be resolved before he and his pregnant wife, Sahela, moved in with their two sons. More than ten years later, they are still fighting for their home to be rendered fully livable.
Ongoing Struggles with Repairs
The couple has sought assistance from various sources, including their local MP and Citizens Advice, yet they remain without a viable solution.
As a leaseholder, Syed is responsible for internal repairs unless the issues are structural. He noted that any repair efforts initiated by Hackney Council, the freeholder, have only exacerbated his family’s living conditions. In a similar situation, residents have reported issues like unbearable heat, leading some to consider legal action over their living conditions.
- Contractors left holes in the walls of his living room, making it uncomfortably cold.
- He has resorted to covering these holes with cereal boxes.
- Heavy rainfall during the wet seasons significantly worsens the situation.
„I can’t sell this house – we absolutely are trapped,“ he stated.
Health Concerns and Complaints
Syed, who mentioned that only standard surveys were conducted since his home was a new build, reported that his mental health has declined due to the poor living conditions. He and his wife are particularly worried about the effects of mold exposure on their children. In fact, they are not alone; another family has made an urgent appeal for help due to similar issues.
The mold aggravates their children’s asthma, a concern they have communicated to Hackney Council along with their doctor.
A report from the Housing Ombudsman Service in September 2024 highlighted service shortcomings from the council regarding its response to reports of water intrusion and related dampness and mold, as well as its handling of the couple’s complaints.
The watchdog indicated that while the landlord had complied with its orders at the time, it was unfortunate that the residents‘ issues remained unresolved, advising them to pursue the complaint process again.
Other Residents Share Similar Experiences
Mary Mensah, 59, and her daughter Natalie, 29, moved into Brooklime House in 2014. Mary remarked, „They sold us a dream. It looked perfect when we viewed it.“ However, they quickly noticed cracks in their walls and mold throughout their home. They also found unfilled holes in their bathroom, which led to a mouse infestation three years ago.
They spent £400 to have the holes filled. When asked if she had complained to Hackney Council, Mary expressed doubt that the council would listen, stating, „As a black person, they won’t listen to us.“
Another neighbor, Natasha, 53, faces similar water leakage issues affecting her and her children’s bedrooms. She believes the leak is due to roof water intrusion but feels ignored by the council.
„I’m always checking the weather forecast; if it’s raining, I instantly get so anxious,“ she shared.
On December 15, 2025, Natasha took time off work to await scheduled repairs by Hackney Council, but the contractors failed to complete any work. She has yet to receive a response from the council regarding this matter.
Natasha noted that her neighbors are experiencing the same, if not worse, issues, yet no effective measures have been taken. „Scaffolding has been in place on the roof above our homes for over a year without any progress. Water continues to accumulate on the walkway above my children’s bedroom, and I am increasingly concerned that it is now seeping into the internal walls,“ she wrote in an email to Hackney Council.
Rising Complaints and Council Response
Data from the Housing Ombudsman indicates that complaints about landlords‘ failure to perform responsive repairs in London have nearly quadrupled in just three years, with almost 80% of cases deemed maladministration.
A spokesperson for Hackney Council stated, „We take our role as one of the country’s largest local authority social landlords, with over 30,000 homes, seriously. We are well aware of the issues and concerns that Mr. Alam has raised and fully sympathize with the situation he and his family are in. We have been seeking to work with him for some time to remedy the situation, with all repair costs to be met by the council.“
They also mentioned that the council is expediting investigations into reports of leaks, dampness, and mold in accordance with Awaab’s law, which mandates landlords to address these issues in social housing.
As for Syed, who has offered Hackney Council access to his home but has yet to hear from its repair team, he feels there is no resolution in sight for his decade-long struggle. „Hackney Council has misled me into buying a defective property and has promised to rectify these issues but hasn’t done so,“ he remarked, adding that he is currently seeking legal advice as a last resort.
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