Collapse fears over long-running subsidence issues

Residents at a housing block in west London say they are "terrified the building is going to collapse" after years of cracks appearing in their homes, bricks coming loose and even a door falling out of its frame.

Homeowners and tenants at 31-49 Hanger View Way in West Acton, Ealing, say they first raised concerns about potential subsidence in 2002 and say the condition of the properties has continued to deteriorate.

The housing association, Peabody, says the properties are safe to live in, adding that a nearby tree is causing the problems.

A spokesperson said: "We know this has been a long and frustrating wait, and we want to get the tree removed so we can get on with the permanent repairs."

Cameron Kermani moved into his ground-floor flat in 2020 after 30 years in council housing. He said that a few weeks ago his front door fell out of its frame and landed on him.

He said: "I [tried] to open the door, five in the morning, the door completely came to my head from the frame, and I was so lucky the glass didn't break."

Kermani said large cracks run through his property and that he has been so worried about the ceiling collapsing in his bedroom that he has slept on the sofa in his living room for the past two years.

A neighbour, Michael Brady, described Kermani's flat as "an accident waiting to happen".

"I mean, we feel like there is going to be a tragedy here before they actually get something done," he said.

Brady, who has lived on the ground floor since 2006, said he first reported cracks and peeling wallpaper to Peabody in 2017.

He said the problems had worsened since then, with leaks, black mould and signs of movement in the building.

After spending more than a year in temporary accommodation while repairs were carried out, Brady returned in 2023 only for the structural cracks to reappear.

He said he had yet to fully unpack in case he has to move again.

Layla Fatima, who lives on the ground floor and is the mother of two chronically ill children, said: "The stress is awful. I am terrified the building is going to collapse."

Her family also had to move out for four months, but she said the council was unable to find them a permanent alternative home and they had to return to Hanger View Way.

Residents believe the problems stem from foundations that were too shallow, and say a site investigation found voids beneath load-bearing sections of the building. Peabody disputes those claims.

A Peabody spokesperson said: "We're sorry it's taking so long to put things right.

"The building is safe to live in and we're keeping a close eye on it. We've also looked into concerns about a previous borehole and how it was filled, and this isn't causing the movement.

"We know a nearby tree is the cause and we're working with the school, whose land it is on, to get it removed."

In 2022, one tree was felled, but residents say the issues persisted. Peabody has since identified a different tree as the cause.

"While we work to get the tree removed, we'll keep checking the building and dealing with repairs as they come up, including fixing cracks and problems with doors and windows," a spokesperson said.

"We're continuing to talk to residents and keep them updated."

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