The housing association responsible for a 'disgusting' retirement home in OIdham has apologised to its residents for 'falling below the standards they deserve'.
Riverside charges residents £122 per week to live in St Margaret’s Gardens, in Hollinwood.
Those living in the accommodation are aged over 55 and are often vulnerable.
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Despite this, the building has been allowed to fall into a state of disrepair with cracked plaster on the walls, exposed wires, holes in the roof, leaks and reports of flooding.
Julie Baker has lived in the accommodation for 10 years, apart from a short break when she moved in with family.
Following a recent leak, a bin full of water has been left outside her flat.
During a visit to the home last Friday (October 15) Julie told the Manchester Evening News : "The outside of my flat is disgusting and they've told me they want to come in and dig the kitchen floor up, while I'm still in there, because they say there's a pipe underneath that's cracked.
"Plaster's falling off the walls, there's rats at the back.
"We have a cleaner that we pay for but they weren't even here half an hour today and I still have to mop the floor myself in laundry room.
"It's disgraceful really because we're all vulnerable in one way or another.
"My mum hasn't come to visit since I've been here because she's embarrassed of the place. She doesn't swear but she calls it a s***hole."
The cost of cleaning is included in a 'service charge' paid by the residents, which also includes usage of the lift.
Another resident, Phil, used to live in Julie's flat but he had to move out as it was "p***ing water," in his words.
He has since moved into Julie's old flat, which has been left semi-decorated.
"It's angin mate," he said.
"We just want somewhere nice to live.
"I'm basically just living in my bedroom. They've not done anything to the flat since I moved in.
"I had an electrician round the other day to sort something out and even though there were two other simple jobs I asked him to do, he said he couldn't due it because it had to be logged.
"You complain but they just tell you that you're imagining things."
One resident, who did not wish to be named, has lived in the building for nine years.
The man said that he has reported a mice infestation multiple times but claimed that it has not been resolved.
He told the M.E.N: "I've still till got them now, I can feel them at night.
"They tell me I'm leaving food about but all my food are in plastic containers in the fridge or freezer.
"It's the 21st century, it shouldn't be like this."
The M.E.N put the residents' concerns to Riverside and the housing association has since apologised and promised to carry out full inspections of every flat in the building.
Joanne Scarlett, Riverside’s head of asset strategy and delivery, blamed a roof leak for some of the problems the residents have faced.
She said: "We apologise unreservedly to our retirement living customers at St Margaret’s Gardens in Oldham.
"We take all complaints extremely seriously and our team are speaking to customers to discuss progress in resolving the issues they’ve experienced and how we can come to a speedy resolution.
"We will also carry out a full inspection of each individual apartment over the coming days and weeks.
"The root of the problem is a leak in a glass roof in the reception area.
"We have also been renewing guttering for this roof, where drainage had been blocked and water was backing up, causing a range of issues which have affected customers’ properties.
"We are also aware that customers have reported a pest control issue and have organised for a specialist contractor to urgently tackle the problem.
"We’ve faced a range of challenges in trying to resolve these issues, nevertheless, we acknowledge that on this occasion, we’ve fallen below the standards our customers deserve."
