Essex residents feel "depressed and ignored" due to living conditions
According to residents, there is overflowing rubbish, broken lifts and dangerous mould
Last updated 30th Oct 2025
Residents of the Yantlet housing block in Leigh say they are “living a nightmare”, claiming their once-beautiful community has fallen into serious neglect despite thousands of pounds in service charges.
David, 79, who has lived in the building for more than a decade and serves as head resident gardener, said in a video posted on Acorn's social media, that the block’s communal areas have been left to deteriorate while residents’ complaints go unanswered.
“We pay £52 per month per household for service charges – that’s over £2,000 a month for the block,” David said. “We want to know where the money is going. We don't see it in repairs or keeping our communal spaces clean..”
According to residents, rubbish bins are overflowing, windows haven’t been cleaned in more than a year, and communal stairwells are “filthy.”
The building’s lift has also been a recurring issue, breaking down seven times in the past year. In one recent incident, a 96-year-old resident became trapped and had to be rescued by firefighters, David explained.
“During the summer heatwave, the lift was out of action for over a week,” David said. “People were collapsing on the stairs and being rushed to hospital. Residents are scared to leave their flats – it’s making people housebound.”
Residents say they have raised these issues repeatedly with South Essex Homes but claim they’ve been “ignored.” Many have now joined ACORN, a community union, to campaign collectively for improvements.
One particularly distressing issue, residents say, is flat 42, where rubbish has been “piled from floor to ceiling” and visible from the street. The flat has reportedly caused flooding and mould in neighbouring homes.
"I live underneath and have been flooded twice, with the tap left running for 24 hours," David explained. "Now there's mould on my ceiling and my health is deteriorating. In the summer, it smells appalling. It's been going on for at least three years".
"I feel depressed and ignored," David said.
Despite these challenges, the residents have continued to take pride in their community. They built the Queen Elizabeth Garden, a rooftop memorial space, raising over £1,500 through donations and sponsorships to fund the project. But even that project has suffered setbacks.
“We were very proud of the garden,” said David. “But when workmen came to fix paving slabs, they dumped concrete into our pots and killed our lemon tree. When we complained, they didn’t seem to care.”
Residents are now demanding a meeting between South Essex Homes and ACORN leaders to address their concerns and restore standards.
“We just want the services we’re paying for,” David said. “But most of all, we want respect."
Statement from Southend-on-Sea City Council and South Essex Homes regarding Yantlet:
"Southend-on-Sea City Council and South Essex Homes acknowledge the concerns raised by residents of Yantlet. We take all feedback seriously and are committed to providing safe, well-maintained homes and responsive services to our tenants.
"We are aware of the issues with the lift at Yantlet, which has caused inconvenience to residents. We continue to actively manage the lift maintenance contract and are working closely with contractors to ensure that recent problems are resolved and do not recur.
"Regarding the concerns about a specific flat - as there is a current tenancy of this property, we are unable to provide further details for data protection reasons. However, we understand the impact this is having on neighbouring residents, and we can reassure you that the flat is safe and secure and that we have been engaging fully with colleagues from other services about this resident. We will continue to closely monitor the situation.
"We are pleased to confirm that a new Tenancy Services Officer has recently been appointed to Yantlet. This dedicated officer is already engaging with residents and will be a key point of contact moving forward, helping to ensure that concerns are heard and responded to effectively.
"While some of the concerns recently raised with South Essex Homes don’t reflect our experience of managing this block, nevertheless we’re committed to listening to all our residents and understanding the full picture. That’s why we’ll be carrying out a door-to-door exercise to speak with everyone directly and hear their views firsthand.
"We value the voices of our residents and remain committed to working collaboratively to ensure Yantlet is a safe, respectful, and well-managed place to live."