Ms Fagan and her chronically ill daughter, Miss McCabe, have accused their landlord, London and Quadrant Housing Trust (L&Q), of a “dereliction of duty” for allegedly allowing dangerous intruders to take over their Islington apartment block for drug use and dealing, an accusation the landlord strongly disputes while pursuing the tenants in court over rent arrears.
Ms Fagan and her chronically ill daughter, Miss McCabe, are now facing eviction from their Islington flat by their landlord, L&Q, over rent arrears that the family claims built up solely due to recent severe illnesses and life-altering medical operations, adding to their distress as they continue to fight the housing association over its alleged failure to stop drug users from taking over their building’s communal areas.
Ms Fagan and her daughter are “petrified” for their safety and too terrified to leave their flat because unknown drug users and masked men are entering Epping Place in Barnsbury at all hours of the day and night, leaving them feeling like prisoners.
The terrified residents allege that groups of “hooded and masked intruders” are repeatedly trying to force entry into both the communal block and their individual homes by violently attacking doors and tampering with the building’s electronics to deliberately cut off the security locking systems.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) has reviewed video and CCTV footage showing men loitering, using drugs, and kicking at doors at Epping Place, verifying residents’ claims that intruders are repeatedly bypassing communal locks by using fire brigade keys or shutting off the door entry circuit breaker in the building’s electrical cupboard.
Explaining how the intruders easily bypass the building’s communal security locks, Ms Fagan warned that “anyone can buy these keys online,” highlighting a major security loophole that she claims allows unauthorised individuals to enter Epping Place at all hours of the day and night.
Although internal records seen by the LDRS reveal that housing staff considered building a protective cage around the electrical consumer unit to stop intruders from tampering with the locks, supervisors rejected the plan over health and safety concerns, while L&Q maintains that they routinely meet with the police and Islington Council to address the situation.
Highlighting the severe toll the environment is taking on their daily lives, Miss McCabe stated that the ongoing crisis has left her and her mother “scared to even go to the bin area” in broad daylight due to the intimidating anti-social behaviour and the hazardous mess left behind by the intruders.
