Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
28 days to get out of tower block
Residents must quit over fire safety Man & son’s £10k squalid home compo
RESIDENTS of a tower block were given 28 days to get out yesterday amid “serious concerns” about fire safety.
Around 60 people in Block B at the Russell Court on the Lisburn Road, South Belfast, were told it has to be “permanently vacated”.
The move came after housing association Radius, who manage the highrise, carried out a “detailed inspection”.
In a letter handed to residents they were told that the inspection raised concerns about the “long term capacity to meet modern fire safety standards”.
The Fire Service was then called before, according to the letters, occupants were told “we have taken the decision to vacate your apartment block”.
One man, who has lived in the building for more than a decade, told the Mirror: “This is my home and I wake up to a letter this morning telling me I’ve 28 days to get out.
“Where am I going to go? There’s a shortage of social housing as it is without all us suddenly needing somewhere to live. And we don’t know if this move is permanent or what.”
Radius Housing said: “The initial findings of this survey have raised serious concerns regarding the long-term occupation of Block B and its capacity to meet modern fire safety requirements.
“We currently have 60 people living in the block. Given these concerns Radius has taken the decision to permanently vacate Block B on a managed basis over the next four weeks. Today we have notified all tenants.
“Temporary accommodation will be available for all who require it while they are waiting to be permanently re-housed under the Housing Selection Scheme administered by the NIHE.”
Radius Housing chief John Mclean said: “We understand this news will be distressing for our residents some of whom have lived here for many years.
“We will do all we can to support this re-accommodation process.”
A Fire and Rescure Service spokesman said: “We will continue to work closely with Radius Housing over the next four weeks as they vacate residents from Block B.” A CANCER patient and his son who claimed snails regularly crawled around their damp rented accommodation are to receive more than £10,000 in damages.
John and Patrick Lyttle sued Choice Housing Ireland Ltd amid claims their health suffered due to the state of the East Belfast property.
Their lawyers argued the social housing provider was negligent in failing to maintain the Reid Street terrace.
Their action was settled at Belfast County Court with 63-year-old John Lyttle set to receive £7,500 and Patrick, 28, being paid £3,000.
Ernie Waterworth of MTB law firm said: “My clients are relieved Choice Housing has been held to account, and will now carry out its duty to either re-house them or rectify the accommodation.”
Jim Lyttle Snr: “I’m ill, and my son has depression and anxiety just thinking about it. There’s damp, skirting boards were hanging off, water was getting in and we found snails and their trails on the carpet.”