Residents of a 40-apartment building on Rochdale Road East in Heywood endured a vile stench and faeces on the floors for days after drainage problems caused by nappies and baby wipes. The building, developed by First Choice Homes Oldham, experienced leaks in the underground car park and communal bin shed.
Residents Report 'Rotten Egg' Smell and Faeces
Those living in the building reported a stench of 'rotten egg' and faeces on the floor. They said that despite numerous calls to the housing association, nothing was done to address the issue until Monday, July 7. The housing association stated the issue was first reported on Friday, July 3, and was caused by residents flushing nappies and baby wipes down the toilet.
Anonymous Resident Speaks Out
An anonymous resident said: "On Thursday (July 2) somebody noticed the grounds in the underground car park were overflowing and leaking. It smelt like rotten egg and there was faeces. We tried ringing First Choice Homes and got through to the out of hours who said to call back on Friday morning. I called them and reported it the following morning and they said they would send somebody out."
"We saw two First Choice Homes people coming out of the car park later and they told us they had to report it and there was nothing further they could do. They said it falls under the contractors," the resident added.
Additional Issues in Communal Bin Area
The resident also discovered similar issues in the communal bin area, with faeces on the floor. A number of residents have since filed complaints with First Choice Homes. "So many of us have put calls in and they just fob us off on the phone saying there's nothing they can do. We feel like we have been left in the dark," the resident said.
"We have children, other families live here. We feel like we are being ignored. We can't put our rubbish in the bins, there's faeces on the floor. And now we've got this second heatwave coming and it's going to make it ten times worse than it already is."
Health Concerns for Vulnerable Residents
The resident highlighted the impact on a pregnant woman in the building: "You can smell it, people are heaving and there's a pregnant lady who lives in the building and she keeps being sick. We feel like nobody is going to help us."
Housing Association Response
A spokesperson for First Choice Homes Oldham said: "FCHO will remind residents not to put nappies and baby wipes down the toilet after these materials blocked a drain at our property at Rochdale Road East. The blockage – first reported on Friday – was cleared on Monday, having been assessed by the contractor over the weekend. The work had to be undertaken by the contractor as the building is new and still in its defects period."
"During a visit on Friday immediately following the report, FCHO staff did not see any visible sewage - only liquid in some gullies and a patch in the bin store - but it could be smelt. The affected area has now been cleaned."
