Rhiann and Jason Blair live in the top floor flat in Tullycarnet, East Belfast, and claim it has been neglected for years by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive
A couple says they have been living in a “nightmare” for years thanks to a flat with a crumbling ceiling and a tree growing in its chimney.
Rhiann Blair and Jason Blair reside in Tullycarnet’s top-floor flat, East Belfast. They claim that the Northern Ireland Housing Executive has neglected it for many years.
The ceiling of the apartment collapsed twice in the past five years, according to Rhiann and Jason. This was the latest incident that occurred in March. It broke a TV that Jason had given them.
Rhiann lived in the apartment for six years. She said that she has had no problems with it.
She says she’s had issues with her windows not opening, constant damp and mold problems, rats invading her home, and a leak in her ceiling due to a tree that grew in the chimney.
Rhiann said: “When I first moved in I had problems with the windows because they just would not open and if you tried to force them then they would fall out.
“Because they were so old they provided no protection from the elements so my flats would be constantly full of damp and mold.
“I had to battle to get new windows put in for over a year because every time I asked I was told that there would be a refurbishment soon.”
The ceiling in the apartment collapsed for the first time in 2017 and then again last March, destroying the couple’s living room, they say.
Jason said: “The first time there was an issue with the ceiling it was able to be patched up, but then there would still be issues anytime there was rain.
“Then in March we came home from a night shift and found our TV, floor, and furniture covered in water after the ceiling went again. It even ruined our wedding documents a couple of months before we were due to get married.
“We just felt like we couldn’t cope anymore due to the stress of it all.
“There was even one night where I started to hear a tapping noise on the ceiling, only to find there was a leak in the roof. Then when a man came round to check it out, we were told that there was a tree growing in our chimney.”
Rhiann said: “Every time that it rains and in winter we have to take our TV off of the wall due to the water and damp that comes into the apartment and anytime that we try to fix the place up, it gets ruined again.”
The couple says that they have put up with the troublesome apartment because they love living in the community and were told that refurbishments would be taking place.
They now believe that the flats need to be “flattened” because they have fallen into such a state of disrepair.
Jason said: “The flats have got to such a state that I don’t think there is anything that can be done to repair them. The hallways are also in an awful state with concrete falling down from the roof and the walls are covered in moss and mold.
“I think that the best thing to do would be to flatten them, but until then something needs to be done to make these flats liveable. Some residents have lived here for over 30 years, and they don’t deserve to be treated this way.
The NIHE has said that an economic appraisal regarding the future of the block of flats is due to be presented to its board next month.
The NIHE has stated that contractors have been on-site in recent weeks and that a number of repairs will be done to the flats.
A spokesperson for the Housing Executive said: “Our Chief Executive and other staff met with local representatives a few weeks ago and a series of actions were agreed.
“These included work to repair roofs, upgrade work to communal hallways, including lighting and painting and we are also examining options to improve security.
“Some of this work is already underway and we will soon appoint contractors to deliver more
“Our staff has been on site this week, both for inspection and preparation of improvement works.
“An Economic Appraisal regarding the future of these blocks is planned to be presented to our Board for their consideration next month.”