Peabody Housing Trust leave resident in danger

Lambeth Liberal Democrats, who have been advocating for the Balham-based tenant, say that she has been victim to ‘severe malpractice’ after Peabody failed to act following repeated harassment, abuse, and assault by her upstairs neighbour.  

Cllr Donna Harris, the Leader of the Lambeth Liberal Democrat Group, wrote to the Acting Chair of Peabody, Mr Ravi Rajagopal, in July but her letter remains unanswered. Despite multiple alerts from Cllr Harris to Peabody’s senior leadership, including the Chief Executive, the Trust has failed to take appropriate measures to protect their tenant.  

Several months have passed since the tenant was first hospitalised following an attack by her neighbour.  

Local Liberal Democrats say the upstairs neighbour ‘must surely have violated’ their tenancy agreement, and that Peabody has persistently chosen to leave a vulnerable resident in harm’s way.   

The tenant, Ms Iris Koroma, suffers from Sickle Cell Disease, a lifelong and life-threatening condition. Her nurse at St. George’s NHS Foundation Trust wrote to Peabody to emphasise that Ms Koroma’s rehousing application must be treated as high priority to avoid further abuse and health deterioration.   

The Liberal Democrats have also taken their concerns to Parliament in response to further accounts of severe malpractice. Daisy Cooper, the Liberal Democrat MP for St. Albans, tabled a Parliamentary Motion condemning “the standard of customer service and engagement provided by Peabody Housing Association”. The Motion also expresses its disappointment “that responses to enquiries to the association are not forthcoming to either its customers or their Members of Parliament.”  

In a statement, Ms Iris Koroma, said: 

“In less than six months at this property, I have endured more physical, emotional, and racial abuse from my neighbour than I have ever known or can comprehend. I am a young, vulnerable care leaver with a disability, and find myself constantly in fear of my life. I’m not sure how much more terror I can withstand.” 

Commenting, Cllr Donna Harris, Leader of the Lambeth Liberal Democrat Group, said:  

“Peabody’s lack of care and their disregard for the safety and wellbeing of their tenant is despicable.”  

“The situation is utterly traumatising for the victim. It is infuriating and heart-breaking to see an organisation entrusted with providing housing support neglect its most vulnerable tenants.”