ONE of Worcester’s biggest social housing providers is providing an “awful” service, according to city councillors.

Platform Housing residents are left to live with issues such as smashed windows, broken lifts, fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour for months on end, councillors say.

City council deputy leader Jabba Riaz said he and other members raise dozens of complaints every month but many issues go unresolved.

Platform said it is committed to improving services for its customers in Worcester.

Cllr Riaz said: “In July we held a high level meeting with Platform to discuss major concerns.

“I stressed to them the hundreds of cases outstanding of poor service and the awful state of accommodation some tenants are living in. Despite this and constant reminders from tenants, the service remains awful.

“I also attended a residents' meeting with Platform officers, who gave assurances things would improve.”

Cllr Riaz said he and Cllr Atif Sadiq have since met a resident who has complained about poor cleaning, a boarded-up window that is attracting anti-social behaviour, a flickering light that keeps residents up at night and a security gate that is permanently open.

“He and others stated these issues haven't been fixed for years,” said Cllr Riaz. “The kick in the teeth is that residents have had an increase in charges for what I believe is maintenance.

READ MORE: Goldsmith Road 'dump' fly-tipped rubbish blocks alley

READ MORE: Worcester landlords and residents asked for views on housing scheme

“Cllr Jill Desayrah has also highlighted a broken lift at the Brookthorpe retirement home.

“It is shocking and shameful that so many elderly and vulnerable residents remain trapped in their homes for another Christmas. Totally unacceptable.

“Some of these issues aren't major repairs - these are small items that can be done quickly, cheaply and as part of routine maintenance, if there is a desire and will to do so.

“It is no wonder that some tenants suffer from poor mental health when they are living in poor quality housing and their landlord doesn't care.

“My council colleagues and I are raising dozens of cases monthly. We have only scratched the surface of how poor Platform really are in Worcester.

“They have become an unwieldy beast that has evolved from a local housing provider who provided excellent service to a huge conglomerate that can't manage the basics.

“From all that we hear Platform must be in danger of becoming one of the worst housing associations in the country.”

Cllr Riaz said Worcester MP Tom Collins is compiling a dossier of evidence against Platform.

“As the housing lead for Worcester City Council, I will be pushing our concerns at the highest level with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government,” he added.

    What are your thoughts?    
        
    You can send a letter to the editor to have your say by clicking here.    
        
    Letters should not exceed 250 words and local issues take precedence.    
        

Marion Duffy, chief operations officer for Platform Housing Group, said: “We’re always keen to hear feedback from customers and other stakeholders so we can work to understand and address the concerns they put to us.

“Following contact from Cllr Riaz we’ve requested more information on the issues he is raising and have arranged to meet with him to discuss them in more detail and to establish how we can work together to get them resolved.

“We’re committed to doing all we can to improve local services and local communications with customers and councillors in Worcester and look forward to meeting with Cllr Riaz to ensure this happens in a productive and successful way.”