Tenants living in mouldy Stansted flats ‘facing a miserable Christmas’ as they accuse Uttlesford District Council of falling behind with repairs

Residents living in mouldy council flats in Stansted are facing “a miserable Christmas” as promised repair work falls behind, it was claimed this week.

Tenants of the Manor Road buildings described efforts to improve their living conditions as “a constant battle”, accusing housing authority Uttlesford District Council (UDC) of failing to ensure proper maintenance of the homes.

In the summer, the council said it took “all reports of damp and mould seriously” and had initiated a programme of works to repair leaking balconies and roofs at a cost of £770,000.

A total of 20 flats – 11 housing council tenants and nine leasehold properties – are due to be repaired by next March.

But one leaseholder said: “We’re really not happy with the progress. They’re so far behind in their repairs and people are facing a miserable Christmas.”

A spokesperson for UDC denied the work had fallen behind schedule.

“The initial period of planning and budget assessments has now concluded and we’re pressing ahead to complete the works to the Manor Road flats,” they said.

“The current phase of work is on schedule – this has included balcony and roofing repairs as well as internal remedial work for damp and mould.

“We are keen to keep residents informed and have invited them to a meeting [on Tuesday December 10] where they can come and talk to the contractors and housing team to find out more about the project and to ask any questions they may have.”