After two weeks of sewage leaking into their homes — and two days after Putney.news informed Wandsworth Council that it would be reporting on the issue — residents of a Roehampton housing block say that council contractors finally arrived to carry out emergency repairs.
The work, undertaken by Drain Surgeons on Friday 23 May, reportedly stopped the immediate leak by mid-afternoon. Since then, residents say, no new wastewater has entered their homes — a major relief after spending days emptying buckets and washing soiled towels multiple times daily just to keep their homes habitable.
But the relief has been tempered by new concerns. Residents observed that even after the repair, water continued to drip at a significant rate from beneath the building. Over the weekend, a new section underneath the flats was unexpectedly cordoned off.
“There’s been no communication,” said one resident. “We don’t know why part of the base of the building has now been taped off. It’s worrying. We’re wondering if they’re scared it might collapse.”
Despite multiple emails from residents — and from Putney.news — Wandsworth Council has not responded to questions about the cause of the leak, the extent of the damage, or what further action might be needed.
Protected buildings falling apart
The affected homes sit within one of five identical slab-style buildings on the Alton West estate — a group that is locally listed for its architectural importance. The sewage leak spanned four storeys, affecting every flat in a single column. Water pooled beneath the building’s open undercroft space, around the support pillars.
Several tenants privately expressed concern over long-standing plumbing problems in the block. One described repeated past issues and said that even previous floods involving faeces had taken years to resolve. Another tenant’s home remains empty, they say, because of “constant flooding.”
When asked about the situation, tenants expressed exhaustion and stress from weeks of trying to protect their homes. One described preparing food in a kitchen while wastewater dripped from above. Another noted the presence of flies and the “disgusting” smell, calling the situation a health hazard.
“We feel hopeless,” one tenant said. “We want to enjoy coming home from work, enjoy weekends. But we can’t. We’ve been stuck like this, and no one is listening.”
Did public pressure force the council to act?
The contrast between weeks of silence and the sudden response — coming only after press inquiries and the publication of our 22 May article — has not gone unnoticed by residents.
“Thanks so much for getting to this so quickly and taking the time to help,” one resident told us. “Your article will surely help us get the council’s attention, not just for our situation but for all Roehampton residents.”
The council has yet to reply to a request for comment made back on 21 May. Seven days later, no explanation has been offered for the leak, the delay, or the cordoned-off space beneath the flats.
