Landau House and Joules House are twin Brent council blocks close to the Jubilee line at Kilburn Station. I understand they were initially built as short-term (6 months) accommodation for police cadets training at Hendon Police College but after the builders failed the block were purchased by Brent Council. That initial intended use would explain why the flats are so very small,
I had heard concerning reports about the state of the blocks and was invited to see for myself.
Michael* has lived in a one-bedroom ground floor flat in Landau House for more than 22 years. He told me in that time he had never seen a housing officer although in regular contact over problems in his flat and on the estate.
The flat is approached along a corridor of industrial style pipework which hardly gives a welcoming or homely feel.
I had disturbed Michael when he was in the middle of sweeping up dust from the floor of his tiny flat. It was dust distributed, he said, by a noisy but inefficient air ventilator. Dust had to be swept up several times a day and aggravated his emphysema. So much so that he preferred not to be in his flat during the day.
The dust on floor
The pictures below show dust around the cover of the air vent and inside the air vent.
Michael was also concerned that asbestos had not been properly removed from his flat and removed a panel to show me:
There had been problems with sub-contractors not carrying our work properly on rewiring (not completed, gluing, rather that screwing fittings into the wall) and installation of new kitchens (poor quality and poorly fitted units).
Michael said, ‘The council seem to think they are doing a good job but the whole place has been neglected for years.’
Adding to the nuisance from dust was noise from the flat above where the flooring had been replaced by laminate with no sound proofing. This was despite rules saying that this should not be done. The result was unbearable noise from people moving around above, noise from the ventilation system and a tremendous racket when a vacuum cleaner was used on the laminate flooring.
Regarding the block as a whole there were problems with anti-social behaviour, mainly at night. Keys had been copied so outsiders could get access to socialise, deal or sleep. The council had taken action by issuing a ‘Closure Notice’ last summer which has now expired. The problem continues although I understand there are plans for increased security systems.
Another notice advertises a pest control company. The block is infested with bed bugs. Initially residents had to pay for treatment themselves, but I was told that the infestation is so bad that the Council is now footing the bill. There is also a problem with cockroaches, and I heard about one flat that had been empty for a period and had to be entered through a window. There were so many cockroaches crawling over everything that the man who had crawled through the window shot back out double-quick.
ASB in the past includes someone setting fires outside people’s front doors and the burn marks remain in places.
Along the corridor from Michael’s flat I met a family, a couple and their three children, who live in a flat the same size as Micchael’s – a kitchen/lounge and one bedroom. The flat also suffers from dust.
The family had painted over the walls in the kitchen and bedroom with thick paint to cover over damp and mould, but it was still evident in corners.
They said the damp would come back through after a few weeks.
One of the children suffers from breathing problems and must use a respirator The father thought the conditions in the flat, despite all he had done to tackle the damp and mould, were making the condition worse.
Throughout the interview the smiling and welcoming mother, clearly trying to remain positive, had frequent bouts of coughing.
Adding to these problems was the unreliability of the common heating and hot water system with residents often left without heating, or without hot water, and sometimes without both.
I was told that workmen carry out work on what appeared to be a void flat found 10 sleeping places - presumably mattresses on the floor.
Outside the air of neglect continued. Michael said it was not just the council’s fault but that of the people who did the dumping.
I asked Michael what he wanted from the Council:
I would like the problems fixed and then just a bit of peace and quiet.
*Not the tenant’s real name name - changed for security and privacy
