FIVE YEARS ON FROM GRENFELL
‘I’m scared.. there are too many false fire alarms’
It’s scary, there are too many children in this
building
RESIDENTS of a block of flats still covered with the same cladding that doomed Grenfell have told of their fear and anger.
Residents in 13-storey Premier House in Edgware, north London – about 12 miles from Grenfell – have no idea when the deadly material will be removed.
Brunilda Mista, 43, says she and her four daughters are scared every time the fire alarm goes off. She added: “The fire alarm goes off all the time, often false alarms. Nobody listens, no one cares. It’s very hard.”
Kamela Zyka, 25, a cleaner, lives with her six-year-old girl. She said: “I’ve been here for one year. I didn’t know about the cladding. I lived in temporary accommodation before and a friend found this flat and I just moved in. I’m scared. There’s too many false fire alarms and too many children in this building.”
One single mum, who lives on the top floor, bought her flat for £400,000 in 2016 and it is now unsellable.
She said: “We’re stuck. I’m very disappointed and angry. The freeholders are responsible for changing the cladding for the safety of everyone. There are so many families living here. They just ignore it, it’s very sad. I never thought cladding would be a problem, who would ever think of it.”
Another resident moved into her flat from Hong Kong 10 months ago and didn’t realise it was dangerous.
She said: “We worry about it because we know the cladding is important. I’m on the fourth floor so it might be more easy for me to leave but I don’t know how the other tenants on higher floors feel.”
Building owner Betterpride was approached for comment.