Residents of a Salford apartment block on Camp Street, Lower Broughton, say they have endured four years of deteriorating conditions, including rat infestations, cockroach invasions, and a faulty lift that leaves vulnerable tenants trapped. The building, managed by Contour Property Management, a subsidiary of Onward Homes, has become a source of embarrassment and distress for those living there.
Overwhelming smell and rat damage
Andy Wigley, 48, a customer advisor who has lived in the tower for nearly 20 years, described the hallway carpet as emitting a sickly, putrefying stench. He pointed to a large stain near two maintenance room doors, where a nest of baby rats chewed through the wood and carpet. “It’s been like this for months,” he said. The smell is so bad that during a recent heatwave, one resident reported being physically sick after returning from work.
Lift breakdowns trap vulnerable residents
Sarah Singh, 47, a single parent with kidney failure and mobility issues, said the lift frequently breaks down, leaving her trapped on the third floor for weeks. She relies on her 10-year-old son Ryan to fetch essentials and takeaways. “I can’t go see my family, I can’t take Ryan to school, or speak to his teachers, I’m just stuck in the flat. It really affects me mentally,” she said. On one occasion, she missed kidney dialysis because operators could not carry the heavy equipment up three flights of stairs. “The other day I couldn’t sleep and I caught him coming into my bedroom. He told me: ‘I’m just checking you’re still breathing’. It broke my heart.”
Pest infestations and health concerns
Nick Barlow, 39, reported seeing eight rats in three days and finding cockroaches throughout his apartment. “Now it’s just embarrassing,” he said. Residents described rats burrowing through doors, chewing wires and water pipes, causing flooding. The carpet has not been replaced despite health and safety concerns, with management stating it is not on the refurbishment schedule until next year. Cockroaches have been seen falling on people’s heads in the bin rooms, and emboldened rats have faced off against pet dogs in the parking lot.
High maintenance fees, minimal service
Each of the approximately 100 apartments pays £200 per month in maintenance fees, totalling £240,000 annually. Yet the building has no caretaker, the lobby is cleaned only twice a month, and the upstairs area once a month. “They’ll do the literal bare minimum,” Andy said. “We’re not expecting it to be the Ritz. We know buildings decline over time. But we expect it to be clean and safe.”
Residents feel trapped and ignored
One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I can’t take it anymore. It’s been four years of this, and now the cockroaches are pushing me over the edge. I’m tip-toeing in and out of rooms, on pins. Every time I see or hear something move, I think it’s pests.” They have tried meeting with Onward Homes, but management keeps changing and nothing gets done.
Management response
A spokesperson for Onward Homes said: “We apologise for the distress and inconvenience that has been caused to residents of Camp Street arising from the lift breaking down and the time to source and fit specialist parts. The lift is now in full working order. We want to reassure residents that we are committed to tackling pests as an absolute priority. A pest control programme is underway across the whole estate, which includes a baiting programme and closure of any identified entry points. This work will continue until these issues are fully resolved. Whilst this work continues, our teams will check if customers need any additional support from us.” The company did not respond to the request to replace the carpet.
