FURTHER concerns have been raised about properties in Abergele owned by a private landlord, by both a current and former tenant, as well as a town councillor.

Earlier this month, the Journal/Pioneer reported that two tenants living in Pensarn flats owned by Abergele-based SH Properties were encountering issues such as antisocial behaviour and mice.

Another tenant since has told the Journal/Pioneer that their flat is “not suitable for living in”, while a fourth person, who used to rent with SH Properties, said they are still owed money by the company.

Cllr Tracey Brennan (Pensarn ward, Abergele Town Council) also urged the company to take action, admitting she is “very concerned” by issues which she labelled “not acceptable in this day and age”.

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The current tenant, who asked not to be named, is living on Marine Road, at their third property owned by SH Properties in the four months they have been registered with the company.

They said: “This is the third property I have had from them; it is on the ground floor, and is meant to be for a disabled person, as I have vulnerabilities when it comes to my mental wellbeing.

“They (flats) are run-down and not suitable for living in. There is damp all over the flat, and the flat is falling apart.

“I want people to know about these flats, and get things changed for the better.”

In response, a SH Properties spokesperson said the first flat the tenant was given was their only available property at the time, and they were moved as soon as another became available.

The company said it has endeavoured to help the tenant as best it can, and was moved again after they struggled to have a meter installed for the storage heaters in their second flat.

The spokesperson said: “It (the tenant’s first flat) was a small flat, so we moved the tenant as soon as another one became available.

“The second flat had storage heaters, and the tenant struggled to get the electric company to put in a meter for the heaters, so was moved once again.

“We have tried our best to help the tenant due to their mental health problems, but it seems the tenant has no other support.

“We have only just been notified that the tenant thinks the flat is damp, and we will be carrying out the work required.”

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A former tenant, who also asked not to be named, told the Journal/Pioneer that they moved in to a SH Properties flat roughly two years ago, but only lived there for six months.

The former tenant said they “had to flee due to domestic violence,” but said they were still being charged for rent at the property until last month.

They are seeking compensation from SH Properties, and are currently homeless.

The former tenant said: “The flat was cold, wet and damp; the bathroom had white fluff on the walls, and all my clothes were damp and smelled badly.

“Because I left, they locked the doors, and said I abandoned the property. My support worker phoned them, and the landlord said they had stopped the rent.

“But clearly, this wasn't right, as the rent was still being paid from March 2022 until just last month, when I cancelled it as no-one was helping me.

“They also got rid of all my belongings which were brand-new. I’m currently homeless, and would like some compensation from them.”

The SH Properties spokesperson said the company was never informed that the resident had left, or had to flee, the property.

An employee of SH Properties was also said to have contacted Universal Credit in August 2022 to inform them that the resident had left the property.

The spokesperson added: “We were made aware the flat door had been kicked in, so we replaced the lock and notified the tenant that the lock was changed; they came to office and got the key.

“The tenant then went missing again and the door was kicked in once again. The flat was then secured, and an abandonment notice was placed on the door asking the tenant to contact us.

“The fire brigade informed us that there was a fire in the flat and that they were in attendance; a mattress on the floor had been set alight.”

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Cllr Brennan, meanwhile, pleaded with SH Properties to make swift changes, including opening its offices for longer, updating its signage, and investing further in its properties.

She said: “Are there any plans for extensive works on their properties, especially concerning the rising damp affecting many of the properties as well as penetrating damp, and the windows that are coming to end of life and are being repaired several times?

“I have even seen UPVC windows repaired with a piece of wood and screwed shut. Do they employ trained professional tradesmen?

“Are they going to be opening their offices longer than three hours each morning, so tenants can actually report repairs? Are they going to update their signage outside their office?

“Why do they allow tradesmen to leave debris outside the flats and in the tenants’ bins and in the alleyways?”

“A car crashed into the building last year - the stone work is still dumped in the front garden of the property and still not repaired properly. I am very concerned if a structural engineer has not examined that property).”

Cllr Brennan also offered to work with and support the company with any difficulties it faces from its tenants, also.

She added: “Are the buildings insured? Is it the owner that is not forthcoming in providing money for repairs?

“To be balanced, is to be noted that, since tenants have been putting repair requests in writing, they have been responding to minor repairs.

“I do appreciate it is budget accommodation and don’t expect five-star standards, but they are breaching lots of the very basic standards.

“Why are workmen allowed keys to enter properties when tenants have not been notified of their arrival?

“I was in one flat where consent had not been given for a representative of the company to enter the property, and the chap let himself in with a key without even knocking.

“These flats of SH Properties are giving the other private landlords who do care and do maintain their flats not only a bad reputation, but are costing them more money in faults breaching onto their properties.

“It really is not acceptable in this day and age. If they have problems with any tenant, I am more than happy to support them.”

The SH Properties spokesperson said it has spent thousands of pounds on repairing and updating its flats since taking them over.

Its office is open four hours a day, and tenants were said to be given a contact number in case of emergencies.

The spokesperson added: “We have a company that we use to remove all rubbish in and around the flats; we do not allow tradesmen to leave debris outside the flats.

“The buildings are all insured, and as quoted before, thousands of pounds have been spent on repairs and updating.

“We will always write to tenants giving at least 24 hours’ notice if we need access to their flat. The time in question, when one of the maintenance men let himself into the flat, was dealt with; the man in question was suspended and has since left.

“We have lots of tenants in serious arrears; we have tried accommodating with payment plans. Some of the tenants are very aggressive and abusive.”