Rodents and mould still affecting Eastfields estate residents 18 months after shocking conditions exposed

By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter

Rodents and mould are still plaguing residents of an estate as they wait for their homes to be redeveloped.

It has now been 18 months since shocking conditions across the 1970s housing development the Eastfields estate in Merton were exposed.

It is one of three estates in the borough run by the Clarion Housing Group which is due to be redeveloped as part of a £1.3billion project. The council transferred its housing stock to the housing association in 2010.

Clarion started work improving the conditions on the 460-home estate after awful conditions came to light in June 2021. However, residents still complain of black mould, damp and mice in their properties.

A spokesman for the housing association said it was also working on the first phase of new homes on the estate, due to start this spring.

The first phase, which is due to be completed by 2027, will see 200 new homes built out of the 800 due to be completed.

However, the conditions on the estate have been slammed as “unacceptable” by Merton council leader Ross Garrod, who said Clarion’s response was “still not good enough”.

Some residents, like Susan Dart, are desperate for work to start. She said she was “gutted” that the regeneration was taking so long.

The 64-year-old said: “My cold tap doesn’t work, I’ve reported it but nothing has happened since last July. I have to buy bottled water to drink. I just want out. It is not a nice place to live, it is depressing.”

Clarion claimed it had not received a complaint and said it would send out an officer to arrange repairs.

Eric Treacy, 69, has been a tenant on the estate for 20 years. He thinks the place has seen better days and said that while he had not faced mould and damp, there was a lot that could do with replacing in his flat.

He said: “All they have said is that the redevelopment is going to go ahead. It definitely needs a big change on the estate. I’ve seen some of the dampness my neighbours have.”

A spokesman for Clarion said: “We regularly engage with residents currently through in-person events on the estate, monthly resident steering group meetings, twice-weekly drop-in sessions and newsletters – the next of which will arrive with residents next week.

“We will continue to invest in the existing estate until the very last resident has moved into their new home.”

Pictured top: Susan Dart wants to see progress on the redevelopment of the “depressing” estate (Picture: Tara O’Connor)