Horror of living with sewage, mould and rodents
EXPOSED raw sewage, mould, no internet connection and serious concerns over fire safety and antisocial behaviour are some of the problems endured by residents in an apartment complex.
Mount Suir was built during the Celtic Tiger years but has fallen into disrepair over the past decade.
The building, located in the Carrick-phierish area on the western side of Waterford, was only part completed.
In an attempt to alleviate the chronic shortage of housing, the local authority purchased each apartment in Block C, one of the three buildings in the development. The other two blocks remain in private ownership and the land surrounding the three sections is owned by the developer.
But residents say they are living a daily nightmare due to what they claim are structural, safety and hygiene problems blighting the building.
Eleanor Foley-Jacob moved into the ground floor of Block C with her husband Robert last April while she was pregnant with their second daughter.
She told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘We thought it would be our forever home when we moved in, but I regret it now.’
The 23-year-old mother of two pointed to mould ‘along all of the apartment’ and says things get so bad, water can be seen ‘dripping from the ceiling’.
A broken kitchen window is ‘held closed by a Coke bottle’.
Eleanor says she and other residents consistently raised concerns with the council.
‘One maintenance man came up from the council and said the mould wasn’t a big issue, but another man felt straight away we have a serious problem. I’ve tried treating it with dehumidifiers, but they’re expensive and it’s not enough.’
Her baby Grace has been on steroids for a chest infection, while her four-year-old Sophie has had a chesty cough since moving in. She says another problem facing many residents is the raw sewage running outside the building along the ground. The entrance to the building has also been unsecured.
This allowed a gang of youths to gain entry last year, who then spent a night trashing one of the empty flats.
Waterford City and County Council told the MoS it has committed to carry out an inspection of the building. The developer did not respond.