Landlord fined after French Resistance survivor is trapped in flat

Published by Max Salsbury for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Environment, Legal

A private landlord has been fined after a former French Resistance member was trapped in her flat after poor upkeep led to the collapse of a communal hallway's ceiling.

Helen Bora, 92, also suffered bitterly cold winters during her 15 years in the attic flat, and had to block up holes in the windows with bin bags.

Mrs Bora - who is believed to be one of the last surviving people who worked with General de Gaulle as part of World War II's French Resistance - had to endure on-going water leaks that weakened the roof, mice infestations, unsafe electrics and inadequate fire safety measures.

In March 2011, the ceiling above the communal stairwell collapsed, trapping Mrs Bora in her flat. The stairwell was eventually cleared by environmental health officers who happened to be visiting the building.

Landlord John Garvey, director of Frankfield Properties Ltd, failed to make repairs to the flat, despite repeated promises to do so. Environmental health officers from Camden's private sector housing team were so horrified by conditions at the flat that they contacted the older persons outreach team to find Mrs Bora alternative accommodation.

Mr Garvey was fined £10,000 plus £3,364 costs after failing to comply with two improvement notices served by Camden Council on the building in Guildford Street, Bloomsbury.
 
Mrs Bora, who once did an interview with Radio 4 about her World War II experiences, has now been rehoused in sheltered accommodation. She said: “Officers at Camden Council have been fantastic, they have bent over backwards to help me and done what real friends would do, not just people doing a job.

“They came to my rescue so many times, from when the rain was coming in through the roof like Niagara Falls to when I could only get my kitchen taps to work by using pliers, they were always there.  I’m so glad to be away from the place, my new flat feels like paradise.”

Cabinet member for community safety, Councillor Abdul Hai, said: “This is a particularly upsetting case, involving a highly vulnerable lady. We have a duty to protect residents in cases like this and I hope this acts as a warning to landlords that we will always take enforcement action where necessary.

“I am delighted that this case has had a happy ending as it could have been quite a different outcome if our officers had not been so diligent.  I hope Mrs Bora continues to be very happy in her new home.”