Residents complain of flooding at Spenser building in Centenary Quay, Southampton

Those living at Centenary Quay’s Spenser apartments say have complained about a flooded basement, their lift “broken for 11 months” and water damage that is spreading throughout the complex.

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Abbey Talbot, who lives on the fourth floor of the Keel Road building, says despite contacting the housing association, Home Group, and developers Crest Nicholson, no real action has been taken – apart from a dehumidifier being installed.

Spenser flats in Centenary Quay, Southampton.

She adds that there is mould and a constant stench of stagnant water.

The 23-year-old said: “We have had our basement flooded for coming up to a year now.

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“Our lift has been out of service for 11 months now, alongside us not being able to use our own bin store in the basement.

“To throw rubbish away we have to go across to another block and down to their basement.”

The flooded basement.

She says her grandparents helped her to buy the flat, however, because her grandad uses a wheelchair he has been unable to visit.

Abbey has complained about having to fork out £183 each month in service charges which go towards cleaning, heating and electricity in the communal areas.

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She said: “I am angry at them. They are not bothered.

“I would like for it to be fixed because at the end of the day it’s water damage. It will rise up and I am going to get the majority of the issues.”

The flooring is carpet.

Adriana Jarco also lives in a fourth-floor flat, which she and her husband Michal bought before Christmas last year.

And without a lift, the 28-year-old – who has a young toddler and is six months pregnant, struggles up and down the steps each day, often lugging a pushchair.

She says “it’s a nightmare” and complains that “nothing is happening”.

Adriana added: “I feel hopeless and I am stressed out.

Mould developing on the walls

“I am on my own all day and I have to carry my child upstairs and downstairs, I have to carry all the shopping as drivers are refusing to deliver to the door because the lift is out of service.

“I just want somebody to come in and start the work before Christmas.”

Karen Yearley, Head of Service Delivery at Home Group, said: “I want to apologise to the customers that have been affected by the issues at Centenary Quay and stress that we are doing everything in our power to get the situation resolved as quickly as possible.

The lift has been broken for around 11-months.

“The responsibility for rectifying defects in the building’s communal areas sits with the freeholder Crest and their managing agent. We are not permitted to carry out remedial works beyond our own individual apartments. We are working with Crest but they have so far been unable to provide a timescale for resolving the issues. We will continue to explore all avenues on behalf of our customers to ensure action is taken and the problems are rectified.

The Echo contacted Crest but did not receive a response at the time of going to print.