Trident Point
LATEST (January 28th) from the Trident Action Group) Meeting arranged with MTVH
Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing (MTVH) manages the Chalkhill estate in Wembley and many other properties. They have offices at the Chalkhill Community Centre/Welford Centre.
Tenants at Trident Point in Harrow, managed by MTVH, have reached the end of their tether over building problems and are calling for support for their cause.
This is their statement:
Since Trident Point, Harrow, was built ten years ago, residents have experienced disrepair, mismanagement and poor customer service on a daily basis.
Trident Point is divided into two blocks managed by different organisations. Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing (MTVH) manages our block and we are their tenants.
As individuals, we have complained to MTVH countless times. MTVH staff are well aware of the long-standing issues in our block and the considerable impact they have on our lives. But despite MTVH’s vast resources and its stated mission to ‘listen to customers and work alongside them’, it seems that the will is simply not there to make Trident Point a safe and pleasant place to live.
After ten years, we still face constant lift outages, heating problems and inadequate security. The communal areas are poorly maintained and in need of redecoration. Recurring damp issues have caused damage to flooring in many of our flats. Mice and pigeons pose serious health hazards. And our intercom systems fail regularly, resulting in missed deliveries and care appointments.
At the time of writing, both lifts in our block have been out of order for over a week.
Disabled and elderly tenants are prisoners in their homes. Others struggle up eight flights of stairs with shopping and buggies. Many of us have been stuck in the lifts and have had to be rescued by London Fire Brigade. Despite the constant problems in Trident Point, MTVH seem to have no emergency processes in place. After the lift breakdown on 29 December, we went several days without any help or communication at all from MTVH. We cannot go on like this.
We are aware that major works are being carried out on the larger of the two lifts. However, the smaller lift designed for use by the social tenants remains out of order and in need of full replacement. We deserve two reliable, functioning lifts.
We have exhausted the official procedures and have been left no choice but to organise to demand justice. We are ready to take collective action, including a rent and service charge strike, to get the housing we deserve.
We demand that MTVH:
1) Replace the lift system with one that is fit for purpose (as has previously been promised in writing by senior MTVH staff).
2) Redecorate the communal areas and replace the carpets.
3) Identify the cause of the recurring heating problems in tenants’ flats and fix the problem.
4) Replace all damaged flooring in tenants’ flats and resolve the root problem of damp.
5) Restore the concierge service that was removed without resident consultation.
6) Acknowledge the problem of vermin and take urgent action to tackle mice and pigeon infestations.
7) Repair the intercom system.
We welcome the support of any groups and individuals who wish to join us in this fight for dignity and peace of mind.
Should MTVH wish to reach out and begin making genuine progress on these demands, they can contact us at tridentpointaction@gmail.com.
Trident Point Action Group
Harrow Law Centre said on Twitter:
Far too often social housing means second rate housing and second rate services. Everyone deserves a decent home and every tenant deserves a decent landlord. Metropolitan has been made aware the serious issues facing tenants for many years yet has failed to act.
A spokesperson for MTVH responded to Wembley Matters with the following statement:
“We are very sorry for the issues that residents at Trident Point have been experiencing. We are committed to continuing to work with residents and the managing agent and freeholder to resolve these issues. We are also forming a new internal project team that will bring colleagues from across the organisation together to focus on addressing the issues at Trident Point.
“One of the two lifts at Trident Point is in service and all residents are able to access this lift to come and go from their homes. We are working with our contractors to bring the other lift back into service as quickly as possible. We regret the difficulties the interruption to the lift service will have caused residents, especially those with mobility issues, and will be contacting the freeholder once again to urge them to replace and renew both lifts. We are continuing to work alongside the managing agent to address issues raised over water leaks and vermin in external communal areas."
“We will be meeting with residents shortly to discuss their concerns and to update them on our programme of works at Trident Point.”
Trident Point Background:
· MTVH is the head leaseholder at Trident Point and we take our responsibilities to both leasehold and general needs (social) residents extremely seriously. However, we are not the freeholder. The freeholder is Harprop Limited. The managing agent for the building is Y&Y Management. This means that MTVH’s responsibility under the terms of the lease is for service and repair. Y&Y Management are responsible for most communal facilities and services (such as communal heating system), and Harprop Limited are responsible for major maintenance and investment matters, such as renewal of lifts or structural matters.
· We are fully aware of the issues residents have faced with both lifts in the building. One lift is working after repairs works organised by MTVH this week, which enables all residents on all floors of the building to access and leave the building. The lift that is currently out of service is awaiting parts to be delivered to enable a fix. We anticipate these parts will arrive next week and engineers will be on site on 5th February to install in order to bring the lift back into service.
· MTVH does not have the legal right to replace the lifts at Trident Point. Under law, this is only something that Harprop Limited can do.
· Some floors inside the properties have suffered from water damage. We believe this to be a fault related to water ingress from the automatic opening vents, which are the responsibility of Y&Y Management to service and maintain. An MTVH repairs colleague will be visiting on Thursday 27th January to inspect the entire building in relation to this issue and we will be working with Y&Y Management to resolve.
· Work has been undertaken by both MTVH and Y&Y Management, who are responsible for the external communal areas of the building, to address the issues with vermin being present in the external communal areas. MTVH has also arranged for our own pest control contractor to attend site.
· We will be contacting all MTVH general needs residents at Trident Point again to offer any further assistance that may be required if residents are facing difficulties due to the issue with the lift.
