Tenants list of a catalogue of complaints against the property management company
Angry residents of a prominent apartment block in Old Trafford have blasted its management company after they say it flooded for the second time in as many weeks.
Some living in the 15-storey Westpoint flats on Chester Road say an incident on Monday night (March 31) was the ‘final straw’ in what they say is a long list of issues at the block, which date back to September last year.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service have confirmed that their teams attended the block after the flooding, with a notice posted at the block by fire officers saying they had cut off the electricity supply and that it should only be reconnected by ‘a responsible person’.
They also said that they had forced entry into some of the flats, damaging some doors.
Firefighters were also called to the block two weeks ago as residents were forced out due to flooding after the water supply failed.
Following the latest incident, when fresh water overflowed through toilets and showers in a number of the apartments, residents spoke of a list of grievances.
These, they claim, include frequent times when there is no water supply at all, no hot water, heating that doesn’t work, power cuts, internet outages and broken washing machines and gym equipment, that are not repaired or replaced.
Many of the tenants in the 317-apartment Westpoint, where prices are around £1,000 a month and is managed by building management company, Manchester Apartments, also known as M-Apartments, are students. But there are families with young children and working adults also living in the block.
They claim that M-Apartments told them to book hotels at their own expense when the water supply and electricity were cut off, promising reimbursement at a later date.
However, a spokesperson for the company said that where residents have had to vacate the building ‘due to issues’, they have been assured that rent would not be collected on their usual date ‘so that the monies could be used to cover any accommodation costs up to an agreed amount’.
‘I need to find somewhere else to live’
Courtney Duggan, 26, is a single mum with a 14-month-old son, Oakley. She said: “Since September, we’ve had issues with no hot water and no heating. It’s been very on and off.
“The company doesn’t seem interested in anything we have to say. The standard of living is disgusting. This was the final straw. I need to find somewhere else to live.”
She said that luckily, because she works as a concierge for another landlord in Manchester, she had been given alternative accommodation without having to book a hotel room.
“But the other residents are not as lucky,” she added.
David Sanchez, 34, is in the final year of a business management degree at the University of Salford. He said the problems at the Westpoint were disrupting his bid to get his final submissions in for his degree.
He said: “There are many times when there is no water supply, no hot water, and the internet signal doesn’t work. Nor do the washing machines in the laundry.
“We report these things, but the company doesn’t do anything except make excuses.
“There are people with children who can’t use their showers. M-Apartments advised us to book into a hotel and pay ourselves in advance, but we can’t afford to pay money up front for hotels when we’re paying £1,000-a-month in rent.
“This is the last thing I need when I am trying to finish my degree.”
Call-centre worker Jace Mayer, 23, agreed there had been ‘intermittent issues’ since September.
On Monday night he swung into action with other residents to help when the toilets starting overflowing with fresh water.
“Myself and another tenant were trying to turn the water supply to the toilets off to stop the flooding,” he said. “We tried to contact a maintenance person from M-Apartments, but we couldn’t get hold of them.”
Tanya Kabote, 26, has lived in Westpoint since 2022. She said: “There have been times when the electricity, the lifts and the treadmills in the gym are not working.
“M-Apartments don’t seem to want to engage in any conversations with us about possible compensation. I had a lot of food in my fridge which had gone off because of the electricity not working. Who is going to pay for that?”
What M-Apartments say
A spokesperson for M-Apartments said: “As the building manager of Westpoint, our priority is to maintain the safety of the residents. As is the case with buildings of this age, there are maintenance issues that have arisen in recent months that we have dealt with and continue to deal with.
“In all cases residents have been communicated with on a regular basis, and we have taken every measure to ensure the building has remained safe for people to stay in.
“Where M-Apartment residents have had to vacate the building due to issues, they have been assured that rent would not be collected on their usual date so that the monies could be used to cover any accommodation costs up to an agreed amount whilst we expedite the processing of their agreed costs.
“We continue to work with our in-house team and third parties to ensure the issues are resolved and the building remains safe for people to inhabit.”