Dickensian misery is still here in the 21st Century

Just a stone’s throw from the birthplace of Charles Dickens, that great campaigner for social justice of the Victorian era, people are living in the kind of poor housing conditions he would have been describing nearly 200 years ago.

The modern twist may be discarded drugs needles, but the walls blackened by mould and collapsing masonry would not have been out of place within the pages of Bleak House.

As we report today, HGV driver Ray Batson, a former Royal Marine, fights a losing battle against dampness in his flat.

Days after he cleaned mould from the walls, it was back, with droplets of with moisture running down them.

He pays £586 a month in rent but says: ‘I don’t feel safe here. It’s horrible. In this day and age, we shouldn’t live like this.’

Tracking down who is responisble — and getting them to take action— is no easy task for the tenants, or, it appears, for the letting agents they deal with.

One tenant, Ian Knight, said he had repeatedly tried in vain to contact his landlord, a Mr Hyatt, but added: ‘I’ve never been able to get hold of my landlord – none of the numbers I was provided ever worked.’

The News approached Mr

Hyatt for comment, but our efforts were also unsuccessful.

Kings Estates, which manages some of the flats in the block, said that Mr Hyatt was looking to discuss the issues with councillors representing the residents. There seems little need for discussion. What these residents need is action — fast. City councillors and Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan are all on the case.

And Portsmouth City Council has the power to issue notices that demand private landlords make repairs by a certain date – or have the council undertake the work and bill the responsible building owner.

Rest assured we will follow this case closely. Charles Dickens would have expected no less.