Yep, we will ask Riverside for a personal comment from the chief executive and for a date when Michaela can move back in. We will also speak to the local council and Burnham's team about what they make of cases like this and if there's anything they can do.
Exactly Denis, a tenant has the right to withhold rent as the property is unfit for human habitation and the landlord (private or otherwise) should be made to explain their conduct to MCC Housing Officer.
What a heartbreaking but not a shocking story. My experience of private landlords is bad but social housing providers surely should be better? She is pregnant!? With RATS in her flat!
Shame on Riverside - shame on them! What is the turnover and profit of Riverside? I bet they can buy a flat outright that is well maintained and limit the damage to their reputation, which quite frankly is in tatters right now. Sending lots of love to Ms Ali and her unborn and I hope everything gets sorted ASAP. This should never have been allowed to drag on for 12 months. The haves and the have-nots in 2023 in Manchester hey. What an advertisement for our City.
Thank you Jack for doing this story.I am Margaret’s friend and I have listened to this story for months.This is shocking the way it’s been past about by different services and no real solution sorted out till now .This hasn’t only affected Michaela ,it has taken its toll on her mother who is a strong woman and Was at a loss where to go next worrying about her daughter and the baby.t has a ripple affect on families.let us hope there is a Happy Ending for Michaela and the safe arrival of her baby .
This is just heart breaking. We've seen it before with social housing tenants - the Awaab Ishak case highlighted how folks just didn't care, didn't feel moved to act, just tried to push the problem away. Makes one wonder why you go into public service of any kind if you don't see these people as part of the public you're there to serve, really.
Hang on a minute, I have more to say fellow Mill Readers…
Maybe ask the incumbent Carol Matthews CEO for a statement? She has been in the post for 13 years so she could find out what has been going on surely? Or better still Ian Gregg
ASSET SERVICES 9 years in the job. This info is on Riversides website btw - quite easy to find out. A general statement is a preventative measure from their PR dept to avoid more embarrassment - it's shit! I think Ms Ali deserves a PERSONAL apology, a FULL repair and deep clean of her flat. It's not that hard is it?
What an awful and unavoidable situation. As The Mill and many others have pointed out numerous times, there is a terrible irony to the fact that whilst property development in the city is at a record high, thousands of people cannot afford to live in Manchester any more or are forced into terrible situations like this woman, living in dire conditions and expected to simply put up with it.
I used to be an advice worker prior to retirement, and I well remember the difficulty of getting the social housing landlords to progress repairs in a timely manner. Over the years, they have become more and more like the worst of private sector landlords. No respect for the people who are paying their wages i.e. social tenants.
This needs to be brought before Andy Burnham and Ms Ali's MP. It's not so long ago that it was reported that a child in Rochdale died as a result of inhaling mould which his housing provider failed to deal with. How many more tragedies have to happen before somebody does something?
Unfortunately I see no plans for Labour to review and amend the basis on which housing trusts and private landlords operate.A statutory service level agreement with maximum targets for the repair of essential services needs to be covered by statute along with penalties for non compliance. This is something that Andy Burnham could press for in his role as Mayor.
Yes, agreed. It's beyond belief that a statutory SLA isn't already in place. But then again - after 13 years of Tory misrule nothing is beyond belief. I'd willingly contact Burnham myself but I don't have Ms Ali's permission to do so.
Is Michaela’s MP involved in her case? I don’t live in the same constituency so I don’t think that an email from me would have much effect , although if anyone has positive experience of writing to MPs in other constituencies on behalf of one of their own constituents, I am happy to.
My heart goes out to Michaela. Your home should be your sanctuary, and that counts twice as much when you’re pregnant.
The acronym WTAF is much overused but really - WTAF?
The chief exec of the housing association should make it his or her personal responsibility to get this sorted in the shortest possible timeframe.
The property should be made safe, dry, clean and freshly decorated for Michaela. And it should all be done within a week.
Meanwhile she shouldn’t have to pay any more rent until the property is made right for her.
Good on you Jack for picking this up and very good on Margaret for persevering in getting it to you.
Good luck Michaela!
Yep, we will ask Riverside for a personal comment from the chief executive and for a date when Michaela can move back in. We will also speak to the local council and Burnham's team about what they make of cases like this and if there's anything they can do.
Exactly Denis, a tenant has the right to withhold rent as the property is unfit for human habitation and the landlord (private or otherwise) should be made to explain their conduct to MCC Housing Officer.
What a heartbreaking but not a shocking story. My experience of private landlords is bad but social housing providers surely should be better? She is pregnant!? With RATS in her flat!
Shame on Riverside - shame on them! What is the turnover and profit of Riverside? I bet they can buy a flat outright that is well maintained and limit the damage to their reputation, which quite frankly is in tatters right now. Sending lots of love to Ms Ali and her unborn and I hope everything gets sorted ASAP. This should never have been allowed to drag on for 12 months. The haves and the have-nots in 2023 in Manchester hey. What an advertisement for our City.
Thank you Jack for doing this story.I am Margaret’s friend and I have listened to this story for months.This is shocking the way it’s been past about by different services and no real solution sorted out till now .This hasn’t only affected Michaela ,it has taken its toll on her mother who is a strong woman and Was at a loss where to go next worrying about her daughter and the baby.t has a ripple affect on families.let us hope there is a Happy Ending for Michaela and the safe arrival of her baby .
Thanks for telling her about us Patricia. I hope Riverside now responds. We will contact them next week to ask for an update.
You are welcome .I do fly the flag for The Mill And like you tell it as it is.
This is just heart breaking. We've seen it before with social housing tenants - the Awaab Ishak case highlighted how folks just didn't care, didn't feel moved to act, just tried to push the problem away. Makes one wonder why you go into public service of any kind if you don't see these people as part of the public you're there to serve, really.
Hang on a minute, I have more to say fellow Mill Readers…
Maybe ask the incumbent Carol Matthews CEO for a statement? She has been in the post for 13 years so she could find out what has been going on surely? Or better still Ian Gregg
ASSET SERVICES 9 years in the job. This info is on Riversides website btw - quite easy to find out. A general statement is a preventative measure from their PR dept to avoid more embarrassment - it's shit! I think Ms Ali deserves a PERSONAL apology, a FULL repair and deep clean of her flat. It's not that hard is it?
Yep, we will ask for a personal statement. Good idea.
Is she still not sorted?? This article on the BBC today: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67727079
From the sounds of it she is still living in hotels!
Hey Olivia - that's correct. Keep an eye out for tomorrow's newsletter for more info.
What an awful and unavoidable situation. As The Mill and many others have pointed out numerous times, there is a terrible irony to the fact that whilst property development in the city is at a record high, thousands of people cannot afford to live in Manchester any more or are forced into terrible situations like this woman, living in dire conditions and expected to simply put up with it.
I used to be an advice worker prior to retirement, and I well remember the difficulty of getting the social housing landlords to progress repairs in a timely manner. Over the years, they have become more and more like the worst of private sector landlords. No respect for the people who are paying their wages i.e. social tenants.
This needs to be brought before Andy Burnham and Ms Ali's MP. It's not so long ago that it was reported that a child in Rochdale died as a result of inhaling mould which his housing provider failed to deal with. How many more tragedies have to happen before somebody does something?
Unfortunately I see no plans for Labour to review and amend the basis on which housing trusts and private landlords operate.A statutory service level agreement with maximum targets for the repair of essential services needs to be covered by statute along with penalties for non compliance. This is something that Andy Burnham could press for in his role as Mayor.
Yes, agreed. It's beyond belief that a statutory SLA isn't already in place. But then again - after 13 years of Tory misrule nothing is beyond belief. I'd willingly contact Burnham myself but I don't have Ms Ali's permission to do so.
Is Michaela’s MP involved in her case? I don’t live in the same constituency so I don’t think that an email from me would have much effect , although if anyone has positive experience of writing to MPs in other constituencies on behalf of one of their own constituents, I am happy to.
My heart goes out to Michaela. Your home should be your sanctuary, and that counts twice as much when you’re pregnant.
Hi Helen - we will check with her whether her MP has been informed.