Kent Residents Battling Sewage Issues for 16 years on Orbit-managed Development

Residents from a housing estate in Kent have struggled with sewage problems and the impact of cheap repairs for 16 years, leading to complaints against the housing association, Orbit.

People living in Kingswear Gardens in Strood, Kent, have been battling sewage issues for 16 years. Homes on the development, which is managed by a not-for-profit housing association Orbit, have suffered from regular water leaks, blocked toilets, sewage overflowing into gardens, and waste backing up through sinks.

Unsuitable living conditions

Despite years of complaints to Orbit, residents continue to live in properties with damaged drains and short-circuiting electrics. They say Orbit has failed to implement repairs quickly enough, and many complaints go unanswered.

Among the specific issues highlighted by residents were:

• Collapsed sewer pipes in gardens
• Sewage-contaminated floorboards
• Backflow of waste into kitchen sinks and downstairs bathrooms
• Backflow of waste through manhole covers outside properties
• Structural damage to walls and ceilings

Clearly, there are ongoing hygiene issues and health and safety concerns to address. Residents reported that contacting Orbit was difficult; they had to call repeatedly before their complaint was taken seriously and have accused Orbit of being ‘unsympathetic’.

Local council seeks answers

Local councillor, David Field, spoke about his constituents’ frustrations with the housing association, saying:

"Many residents here from Kingswear Gardens have been in touch, particularly about the poor state of repairs and responsiveness from Orbit Housing Association.

"It's clear that Orbit hasn't been fulfilling its duties in terms of providing decent, safe, hygienic homes that people have been paying their rent and service charges for.

"I've been in touch with Orbit and its directors to make them aware of the concerns. Sometimes we do get a response saying things will be looked into, but quite often, unless you really put pressure on, we're just not seeing the communications that residents need and deserve here.

"As a council, we're keen to see improvements in social housing and housing repairs. At the moment, there's national legislation going through which will ensure that social housing residents receive greater accountability from their providers. Our housing associations really need to step up and treat residents with respect."

Who is Orbit Group?

Orbit Group is one of the UK’s largest housing associations, managing over 46,000 homes. Like all social housing providers, Orbit is legally responsible for maintaining its properties and keeping the people who live there safe.

In response to questions about why residents’ issues were taking so long to fix, Orbit responded that they were aware of “an ongoing intermittent drainage blockage at Kingswear Gardens” and that they had “attended to empty the main drain and complete a jet clean of the affected pipes, clearing the drains each time.”

Orbit went on to say they had “undertaken a CCTV survey of the drain pipeline we are responsible for, to identify if any further works are required” and that they would be "in regular contact with the affected customers”.

If their promises are empty, and repairs are not carried out quickly enough, tenants can follow the claims route to ensure their voice is heard.

Housing disrepair claims

Thousands of tenants across the UK continue to live with damp, leaks and serious disrepair that affects their quality of life and their health.

Under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 and the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, tenants are entitled to live in a dwelling suitable for human habitation from the start of their tenancy and throughout its duration. This obliges both private and social landlords to address any complaints within a reasonable period.

The more recent Social Housing (Regulation) Act of 2023 has introduced stricter regulations on social landlords to safeguard tenants from significant harm caused by disrepair and hazards in their homes.

At Premier Legal Assist, we support tenants every day who are dealing with housing disrepair cases, including mould, damp, leaks, faulty electrics, as well as issues with plumbing and heating.

In certain cases, you may be able to claim compensation for inconvenience, stress, and any damage to your belongings caused by unresolved repairs.

Get in touch with Premier Legal Assist today

If you’re living in a property managed by Orbit Group or another social landlord and the disrepair isn’t being fixed after being reported, don’t wait. You could be legally entitled to repairs and, in some cases, compensation. Fill in our short form now to see if you are eligible to claim.