Collapsed ceiling adds to continuing temporary accommodation woes for mum-of-three
By Charlotte Lillywhite, Local Democracy Reporter
An exhausted mum has slammed ‘disgusting’ delays in fixing a partly collapsed ceiling in her temporary council home.
Dionne Davidson, 38, said she fears for the safety and mental health of her three children, aged three, nine and 11, as they are once again suffering disrepair in temporary accommodation provided by Wandsworth council.
Ms Davidson has waited a month for contractors to repair the ceiling over a bathroom at her property in Nightingale Square, Balham, after it partly collapsed on February 13 due to a leak in a neighbouring property.
The property is made up of a one-bed and two-bed unit, so her 11-year-old son can have his own bedroom, which was recommended by a GP because he has traits of ADHD and autism.
Ms Davidson’s son has not been able to sleep in his bedroom since the incident, however, because its ceiling is shared with the bathroom where it partly collapsed.
The family doesn’t use this bathroom as it comes with the one-bed unit, which was only given to them for the extra bedroom.
The mum said: “That was meant to be my son’s bedroom and, unfortunately, it’s not his bedroom because he’s had to have this inconvenience of having to move in with his sisters for safety because I wouldn’t forgive myself if the rest of that ceiling comes through on my child. I’m not prepared to allow that to happen.”
She added: “He’s just all over the place. He’s sleeping in my bed, he’s refusing to do certain things, and I called the GP and I said it’s having an impact on my children’s mental health and this is where it becomes a concern for me.”
Labour councillor Aydin Dikerdem, cabinet member for housing, said the council arranged for its repairs contractor to visit Ms Davidson’s property as soon as possible, but that this took ‘too long’ due to extreme pressure on its services – with the authority housing record numbers of families in temporary accommodation.
There were 13,513 people on the council’s housing waiting list in March 2024.
Ms Davidson was first alerted to the leak when water began dripping down the wall of her son’s bedroom, before the ceiling gave way over the bathroom on February 13. She said rodent droppings fell into the toilet during the collapse.
The mum claimed the damage was flagged as a non-urgent repair after members of the council and property management company inspected it on February 14, which left her waiting until March 5 for the repairs contractor to visit.
She was then left even more frustrated as, she said, the repairs team only boarded up the affected area on this visit. She waited all day on March 10 as she was expecting the repair to be completed, but nobody turned up.
Ms Davidson says she has had four years of problems with temporary accommodation – having previously been in a mouldy Croydon flat.
Councillor Dikerdem said: “I’ve worked directly with Ms Davidson previously to help her navigate temporary accommodation placements and get her closer to her child’s school. When the ceiling collapsed in her new property in Nightingale Square, she sent me the footage of the collapse and it was terrible.
“Unfortunately, the council could only get a contractor booked in for March, which is too long. Following initial repairs, the council have been in touch with Ms Davidson this week and will be visiting her property to ensure further repairs are carried out as well as discussing any further needs she may have relating to her children’s health.
“Along with all other London boroughs, we have record numbers of households now living in temporary accommodation and with waiting times for permanent accommodation measured in years.”
Pictured top: Dionne Davidson pictured in the previous Croydon flat she was moved into by Wandsworth council. (Picture: Facundo Arrizabalaga)