St Francis Tower landlord says delays in repairs are 'obliterating' residents after seven years of construction
Flood damage forced people out last summer, and now they’re told it could be another year before they return.
A landlord with four flats in Ipswich’s St Francis Tower says residents are being “obliterated” by endless delays, with repairs now not expected to finish until late 2026.
The building, which houses more than 100 flats, has been surrounded by scaffolding and wrapped in plastic since 2018, when its cladding was deemed unsafe. Then, in 2023, a flood forced all remaining residents out.
Many have since been living in temporary accommodation, arranged by the property management company Pier Management.
Ross Bonner, who owns four flats in St Francis Tower, says delays to internal works have left the building looking "brand spanking new" on the outside but still uninhabitable within.
“In layman’s terms, we’ve got a position now where the external remediation of the building is ongoing and it’s moving ahead and should be completed by December,” he said. “But the internal application has been rejected.”
The rejection, Bonner says, is because management company Pier Management and the building’s freeholder are being asked for historical documentation related to previous remediation works — records that are proving difficult to obtain.
“They’re being told to produce historical documents, which they’re finding very hard to produce themselves because obviously they weren’t in control of the building.”
The block’s internal works, required after flood damage forced all residents out in July 2023, may not begin until after summer.
“They’re hoping to have a reviewed application reinstated by August, which would then mean… maybe 12 to 18 months before anyone is going to get to a point where that building is habitable again,” Bonner explained.
£10,000 won't cover costs
Residents have been offered a £10,000 “final settlement” from Pier Management to find alternative accommodation. Bonner tells us this comes as the insurance company are "unwilling to let this carry on any longer."
He explained the claim has risen from around "£750,000 to upwards of £3million. So what they're stating is they won't pay out."
For him, the offer doesn't consider the emotional, or physical distress they've all gone through and won't even cover costs.
"I've tried to explain to a lot of them is even if they take this £10,000, some of them are in alternative accommodation where they're being told they're going to have to start paying rent to the landlords of the alternative accommodation.
"And the £10,000 is for them to pay these landlords. But some of them are still paying rent to leaseholders within Saint Francis Tower. So what I've tried to explain is £10,000. OK, if you start afresh and go off and you find a place, and you can get yourself off your feet that way. But if you're expecting this to cover your bases for the next two years, it won't. It barely will
“Leaseholders need to unite”
Speaking to us, Bonner said he's not someone who walks away from a problem, and called for leaseholders across the country to come together.
“There are leaseholders not just in St Francis Tower, but all around the country who need to understand that what they need to be doing is uniting together. Get under a united single voice and have yourselves heard. Bang that drum.”
He added: “Otherwise, it’s a divide and conquer situation.”
With the anniversary of Grenfell this week, Bonner said the government must act: “It’s something that central government needs to pick their feet up a little bit and pull their thumb out with all of this.”
He praised Ipswich MP Jack Abbott for being a “good voice and a good help,” but said national leadership is essential to resolve what he described as a failing system.
“Don’t do it. Buy a house.”
Bonner also issued a stark warning to would-be buyers: “The only advice I can give to anyone in the general public, leaseholder or not, is don’t buy a flat. It’s simple. If you don’t want a headache and you don’t want to deal with these third-party companies, don’t do it.”
Bonner revealed the emotional toll for the people involved is massive, with some now struggling with depression.
“It obliterates people. You’ll see it with some people that they’re questioning their lives,” he said. “It’s not fair in any way, shape or form that people should be pushed into that when all they’re trying to do is get in the housing market.”
Pier Management have been contacted for comment