Reading flats marred by intruders and ant infestation

Basing House and Radcot House are both blocks that were built as part of the redevelopment of the old Battle Hospital site in West Reading.

The flats are owned by the housing association Southern Housing and managed by a company called Remus.

Neighbours have accused both companies of mismanagement and raised a long list of complaints.

Neighbours Karly Kaya lives in Basing House with her husband and son and has criticised them for not resolving the ant infestation in her flat for six months.

She also accused Southern Housing and Remus for not working together to address the serious issues raised.

Mrs Kaya said: “I’ve had pharaoh ants within my flat since December; I have had to now take it through Southern Housing’s complaints department to try to get the issue resolved – they have acknowledged this complaint but have still made no attempt to investigate or treat, which they do cover and have actually followed through with me when we had the ants a few years ago.

“Upon speaking with several other tenants many have pharaoh ants and it is making many of them and myself very anxious – constantly finding ants in our food cupboards, in packaging, in the bathroom, even in my son’s bedroom – it is a constant daily battle which is starting to take its toll mentally, especially on my son who has ADHD and is scared of finding ants on him in the middle of the night.

“My heavily pregnant neighbour has had them quite severely and is also getting nowhere with her own complaints.

“We also have a severe leaking issue within the Basing House building – this seems to be affecting many communal hallways and floors and many flats, resulting in a very large flooded area in the basement car park – this has been going on for several months.

“I have a large damp mouldy area in my kitchen ceiling next to a communal wall which obviously the water is leaking through the interior – you can hear it dripping constantly.

“I am struggling to keep the area clean and the damp smell is very strong. This is worrying as I have asthma which is exasperated by damp conditions.

“Our other next-door neighbour has severe damp issues within their bathroom – again although acknowledged as leak issues by Southern Housing and Remus nothing has been done for them or myself, or also for many other tenants with their own leak/damp issues.”

Although she does not live in Radcot House, other neighbours told her the lifts have not worked for months, and there have been difficulties with lifts in Basing House recently as well.

Radcot House at the old Battle Hospital site In West Reading. The house is owned by Southern Housing and run by Remus property management company. Credit: Google Maps

Other issues she raised included ‘severe’ hot water and heating issues since December, which led some tenants to flee to hotels until the problems were fixed, and loitering and anti-social behaviour from teenagers.

Mrs Kaya raised the issue to Southern Housing, Remus and Sir Alok Sharma, the Conservative MP for Reading West.

In her letter to Sir Alok, she argued that residents ‘are not being treated with dignity or respect’.

Sir Alok wrote to Paul Hackett, the chief executive of Southern Housing to intercede for her and other residents of Basing House and Radcot House.

Meanwhile, another woman who did not wish to be named has provided evidence of intruders sleeping in covered areas of Basing House and loitering in hallways.

An intruder loitering in the communal area of Basing House in West Reading. Credit: UGC

She also provided photos of standing water from a leak which affected both the outside and inside of Basing House, with water seeping into the floor of the corridor leading to the cycle store.

Standing water outdoors at Basing House in West Reading. Credit: UGC

In a comprehensive response to the issues raised, a spokesperson for Southern Housing said:  “Some of the repair issues raised at Basing House and Radcot House are the responsibility of the managing agent, Remus.

“This includes the communal entrance doors, hot water and heating issues raised, fire exit doors and automatic car park shutters.

“We’ve remained in close contact with Remus on the outstanding communal repairs to ensure they have them in hand.

“With regards to both lifts, no issues have currently been reported to us. We’d urge residents to report any future issues to us immediately.

“We take reports of anti-social behaviour very seriously and will continue working closely with our partners to tackle any problems.

“Our team have been speaking to the local Neighbourhood Policing Team about loitering in communal areas.

“We’re sorry to hear Ms Kaya was experiencing problems with ants and our team have now sent a pest control expert.

“We also arranged for a surveyor to attend Ms Kaya’s home on Monday, May 22 to look at the repair issues she’s raised and discuss an action plan going forward.

“The other complainant is a Shared Owner and under the terms of her leasehold agreement is responsible for arranging repairs within her own home.

“However, our Home Ownership Team will be contacting her to see if there’s anything we can do to support her.”

In a follow-up conversation, Mrs Kaya confirmed that workers have been sent out to deal with the ant infestation and the water damage, but was frustrated that it has taken the companies six months to act.