'Tenants live in misery' - Council faces criticism over poor property upkeep in Dudley
Residents express frustration over Dudley Council's lack of maintenance of properties in Upper Gornal.
Dudley Council faces backlash over poor property upkeep in Upper Gornal as the community has expressed dismay over neglected flats and common areas.
On a recent visit to Club Row in Upper Gornal, the former MP and current Reform councillor, Marco Longhi said that flats in the area should have much better upkeep than they already do and said that its conditions were “unacceptable”.
Longhi criticised Dudley Council’s maintenance of the properties.
He took a series of photographs that showed overgrown grass in Club Row, Upper Gornal.
In a Facebook post, Marco Longhi said: “Two-tier landlord laws.
“If the landlord is the public sector (Dudley Council), it seems they can let properties become run down (so much so they then sell them…) and let tenants live in misery.
“The rent, and more lately the additional service charges on common areas, should pay for proper upkeep.
“Today I visited the flats in Club Row, Upper Gornal, and this is what I found it unacceptable and I have reported it.”
Online, there has been a great deal of outrage over the problem, with numerous comments underneath Marco Longhi’s post about the issue.
One user wrote: “That's disgusting! And it will be rat infested!!”
Meanwhile another user wrote: “Its happening every were not just council or rented properties either many of home owners let their properties deteriorate its scruffy. Kingswinford used to be nice to live in not any more it’s just laziness in my opinion.”
In a separate post, one user vented her frustrations, as she is unable to pick up dog poo due to the issue of overgrown grass in Dudley.
She said: “I wish Dudley Council would cut the grass verges I am struggling to pick up my dogs poo with the grass being so high now.”
Councillor Damian Corfield, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said: “Dudley Council carries out six cuts per season to highway grass verges, parks and housing communal areas.
“The recent warm weather, followed by periods of rain, has promoted fast growth of grass areas and it is not possible for us to reach every grassed area at the same time.
“I would like to assure residents that our grounds maintenance teams are working their way through the borough at the moment with the second cut of the season well under way.”
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