Southwark (Parliament Politics Magazine) – A Walworth mum of three says she is “frightened” after Southwark council house roof collapsed for the second time in a year, raising urgent safety concerns.
Sera told the News that after 16 years of being in this apartment at the Aylesbury Estate, the ceiling fell on Friday, February 14.
“It happened overnight,” she explained, “I woke up with a bang and went downstairs and saw the ceiling had fallen in.”
She said it’s the second time in a year this has happened.
When and how did the roof collapse happen?
The roof collapsed for the first time in February 2024 because of a leak in the bathroom, which is just above.
According to Sera, the council came to fix it, but she was concerned that it wasn’t done correctly and that it might happen again.
“The whole ceiling was not replaced – just a square of it.”
Sera’s biggest concern is for her children, aged 1, 10 and 16.
She commented: “Up until 9 pm that night we were all in the living room.
What if it had fallen on them?”
Sera hasn’t been able to use the lounge since the Southwark council boarded up the hole and cleaned up the area on Sunday, February 16. “I’m too frightened in case more of the ceiling falls down.”
The wall is so fragile.”
How did the Southwark council respond to the tenant’s request?
Sera is awaiting the council’s showing up to make the necessary repairs. She went on to say that although the majority of the damage was “psychological,” she now had to discard several of her baby’s toys, books, and sofa bed because of the incident.
“I’m not looking for money. I just want a safe house. It’s really bad damage.”
According to the council, they must go fix the ceiling. However, Sera fears that unless the entire ceiling is restored, it will occur once more.
She voiced concern that the council is letting the partially destroyed Aylesbury Estate decay because she will be the last to leave in phase 4.
A Southwark Council spokesperson said:
“Ensuring that the residents of Southwark have safe and well-maintained homes is an absolute priority for the council.
This type of incident is taken very seriously – work has already been undertaken to make the ceiling safe. A follow-up investigation will promptly be carried out in addition to this to ensure the residence is safe going forward.”