Teen living in Birmingham council tower block pleads for help as he says 'I've been forgotten'

A Birmingham teenager living in a 'mouldy, leaky' flat has pleaded with the council to fix the problem after nine-months of 'neglect'. After recently leaving care, 18-year-old Devontae McNally had been excited to get the keys to a place to call home.

But soon after moving into the one-bed flat in Hollowmeadow House, Bromford, he found the roof was leaking onto the living room floor. And as he claims Birmingham City Council has failed to fix the problem, there's black mould, a large hole and plaster falling from the ceiling.

A few weeks ago, the teen woke to chest pain, which he believes spurs from his living conditions. "My roof recently started to cave in," he told BirminghamLive after reaching his wits' end. "I didn't know what to do.

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"I can already see pieces that are lose in the roof." Devontae, who is currently looking for warehouse work, likened the leak to "swimming in my own house" after waking to the whole flat flooded this week.

He said: "I woke up yesterday and my whole flat was flooded, it was like I was swimming in my own house. I have to get loads of towels, but I haven't got the money to keep buying loads of towels, I'm just using the mop at the moment. It's still leaking as we speak.

"I just need this problem sorted asap. There is a big hole in my roof." The problem began in February, gradually worsening over time. Despite multiple complaints to the council, Devontae claims he was told they could not carry out an urgent repair as he is "not disabled."

He explained: "I’m 18 years old and left care about a year ago so a recent care leaver. I have been homed by the council and I really liked it as it was my first place, my first house. Now, I've been forgotten about.

"It started slowly, I called them about it, they obviously didn't do anything. I called them again a month later, then after that it just became an ongoing recurrence. They kept saying to me they'd fixed it then they wouldn't come out.

"They came out once, they said they fixed it, They told me they put this silicone on the roof, it's meant to stop it, but it hasn't." He claims the authority booked to re-visit the property, but failed to turn up.

"They just booked it and just didn't come. It was just a no show," he said. Mould then became visible from September onwards, with black spots appearing on the ceiling amongst the damp.

He added: "Because it's leaking so badly from mine, the neighbour below me is getting it as well. At one point about four weeks ago now, my chest was hurting everything.

"I hadn't been around anyone to catch anything, I was like the mould has come and now it's really hurting my chest. I went to the doctors about it and they were like is there any mould in your house. That's when I told them. They just told me to take some paracetamol.

"It's started in the bedroom now as well. I called them not too long ago to tell them I've got a hole in the roof, they said to me 'because you're not disabled, we can't get an urgent repair out.'

"I was really annoyed because it was like , what am I supposed to do then, my roof is coming in and because I'm not disabled I can't get it fixed. My £700 sofa bed has just got damp on it now from the walls."

Brumwish 2024 - buy a gift for a child in need

BrumWish 2024 is Birmingham Live's festive drive to get thousands of gifts to children and young people across our city - among them the homeless, the vulnerable, kids in care, kids who are poorly or struggling, and kids who have little.

There are THREE simple ways to help.

1. Buy a new gift from the Brumwish 2024 Amazon giftlist. In just a click your donation will be whizzing its way to our volunteers at Edgbaston Stadium.
2. Donate money to the appeal fund hosted by Thrive Together Birmingham - this will help pay for gifts for kids with specialist needs or specific wishes.
3. Buy a gift and, even better, rope in friends, neighbours and workmates to do the same, then drop off your pressies at Edgbaston Stadium, Edgbaston Road, B5 7QU on Friday 6th December, 10am - 3pm; Saturday 7th December, 10am - 1pm; or Monday 9th December, 10am - 1pm. Volunteers will be there to help you. Please don't wrap your gifts. You can also drop off by arrangement until Monday 16th December - contact Louise on 07469 979286.

Thanks to our partnership with #Toys4Birmingham, every single gift will find a good home in the loving care of a child living in B&Bs or hotels, hostels or refuges, children receiving support from specialist organisations and charities, and families being supported by children's centres and charities around the city.

Making up the Brumwish and Toys4Birmingham gang are Thrive Together Birmingham, Birmingham Playcare Network, Warwickshire Cricket Foundation (the charitable arm of Warwickshire County Cricket Club), Birmingham Forward Steps and BirminghamLive/Birmingham Mail.

Thank you to Amazon UK and the amazing team at the Sutton Coldfield depot for their support.

After BirminghamLive got in touch, Birmingham city council vowed to ensure the repair was carried out and the problem resolved. They apologised and said they did not want any "tenant to feel forgotten."

A spokesman for the authority said: “We are very sorry to hear about Mr McNally's situation. Workers are due to attend the property on the November 26 to undertake repair works.

"Upon completion of the work, inspectors will visit the property to follow up with the tenant to ensure that the work is carried out fully and the problem is resolved. We absolutely sympathise with the tenant's frustration and do not want any tenant to feel 'forgotten.'

"The repairs will be prioritised and followed through, as well as any further interventions to resolve any persistent damp and mould issues. We will review calls made to the council to check for quality and that appropriate actions were taken.”

Have you been affected by similar issues? We would like to hear from you. You can contact us by emailing stephanie.balloo@reachplc.com