‘The mould makes my asthma worse’: Wycombe residents on life in MCR Homes flats

Black mould, mushrooms growing through carpet and stolen post are some of the issues tenants have reported at blocks of flats in High Wycombe.

The Old Works on Leigh Street is a complex of more than 228 apartments, which combine ‘industrial architecture’ with ‘modern luxury’, according to developer MCR Property Group.

But luxury is not the reality for some residents of the flats such as Frankie Carter, who lives in the De Havilland building at the site.

The 20-year-old, who is originally from Portsmouth, moved their bed and other possessions into the living and kitchen area due to mould in their bedroom, which they said was caused by an external leak.

They told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “I have asthma. It wasn’t that bad, but this has really triggered it, especially when the bed was on the floor and a lot closer to the bedroom door. I was wheezing. I had headaches all the time.

“Before the bed was moved, it was smelly, damp, musty and wet. Quite a lot of the flats have been affected by leaks and mould.”

Frankie said the spread of mould had slowed, but not disappeared, after the leak was patched with expanding foam by their landlord MCR Homes.

The Manchester-based company, a subsidiary of MCR Property Group, said leaks in two blocks took longer than usual to identify but that it ‘worked quickly’ to resolve the issues and had compensated tenants or offered them alternative apartments.

However, a leak remains ongoing beside a lift in Birch House, another block of flats at the Old Works, where persistent damp has soaked the carpet and caused mould to spread up a wall.

Mushrooms also grew out of the damp carpet in this area and were spotted by residents, including Matt, who lives in one of Birch House’s shared-ownership flats.

He told the LDRS: “There was a leak in the shared area and mushrooms growing there a couple of weeks ago.”

Another resident Lucie added: “If you go to the lift, you can actually see the water damage that has been done to the carpet. If you look at the carpet you can see the marks. The mould was growing all over there and the mushrooms.”

Freja Brunning, who also lives in a shared-ownership flat in Birch House, added: “It is not good, the amount they are charging.”
MCR Homes said the site was ‘fully compliant’, meets all ‘regulations’ and that scaffolding at the site was erected for leak repairs and would remain up in case further repairs were necessary.

Other issues at the Old Works allegedly include post being stolen. This issue has been reported in De Havilland and Birch House.

A piece of paper told residents: “Parcels have been going missing from this postroom. An investigation is ongoing, and CCTV is being closely monitored in this area.”

Frankie said some of their parcels had also been stolen, including clothing, equipment, supplies they needed for university and a sewing machine.

A spokesperson for MCR Homes said the issue was ‘outside the company’s knowledge’ and it advised residents not to leave post in shared areas and to choose ‘secure delivery methods’.

Frankie is still paying their rent and said they had no rent arrears, but said they were in a difficult situation and could not afford to move out or stay at the Old Works long-term.

In August, the tenant, who has ADHD and autism, received an eviction notice and has been heavily reliant on their Personal Independence Payment benefit, which is supposed to be used for the extra costs associated with living with a disability.

They said: “The PIP money for things that I need with my disabilities has had to go on rent for the last eight months.

“Long-term, I just cannot wait to leave MCR. Short-term I would love to move to a different apartment. It would just be nice to live in a flat without mould. Our clothes are just damp.”

MCR Homes said Frankie was offered a replacement property while repairs were carried out after they reported a leak at their apartment.

A spokesperson said: “The tenants did not take the necessary steps to enter the new apartment offered or the new tenancy agreement. The tenant’s tenancy expired shortly after they notified us of the leak.

“We do not operate on periodic tenancies and as the tenants failed to engage with us to arrange a new tenancy agreement, notice was served. This is standard industry practice.”

Another incident at the Old Works saw cars crushed in the car park in 2022. MCR Homes said engineering surveys showed this area was now safe, while a leaky pipe in the area was being resolved.

A spokesperson said the company had an ongoing claim against the civil engineer which carried out the work on the part of the car park that fell.

Buckinghamshire Council’s cabinet member for homelessness and regulatory services Mark Winn said the council had received reports of issues at Old Works and environmental health officers had investigated.

He said: “Site visits have not identified significant hazards that require enforcement action. However, the council continues to have an open channel of communication with MCR homes regarding issues at the site.”