Bristol leaseholders say leaking roof and stalled repairs leave flats uninhabitable
Leaseholders at Portland View in Bristol say a leaking roof has caused ceilings to collapse and left flats uninhabitable, while a planned re-roofing project remains stalled.
How it was covered
- BBC One was the only channel found covering it, concentrating on leaseholders' leaking roofs, stalled repairs and unclear responsibility.
- BBC News, Channel 4 and Sky News: not found in tracked broadcasts.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story. Facts only one channel reported are attributed to it.
Leaseholders at Portland View in Bristol have told BBC One West that water is pouring through the roof, causing ceilings to cave in and leaving flats uninhabitable. The block is a mix of owned and rented flats, and residents believe it was not built to the original specification.
BBC One West reported that one resident said they could collect 50 to 60 litres of water a day easily. Residents described listening for rain at night and finding it hard to sleep because of the dripping. One said an en-suite bathroom had not been usable for several years.
Repair work was supposed to take place this summer, the report said, but the re-roofing project has stalled and no resolution is in sight. Multiple flats and communal areas are affected. One resident said they had been showing people a new apartment when water pooled on the floor.
The report said one ceiling had collapsed above a shower in a flat below another resident's home, and the number of affected apartments was growing. A resident said their flat had been deemed uninhabitable but there was no more funding for alternative accommodation, and the situation had affected their mental health and finances.
The leaseholders say they are stuck between several groups with interests in the building, with no one taking full responsibility. BBC One West reported that they cannot contact the people who own the land below, and that insurers referred them to Hillcrest, the company responsible for day-to-day management. Representatives from Hillcrest arrived on site while the BBC was there but did not discuss the issues. In a statement, Hillcrest said it recognised the seriousness of the roof problems and regretted the inconvenience, and would communicate with residents as soon as possible.
Residents said fault mattered less than action. "It doesn't really matter to us who's at fault. We just need that action done," one said. They hoped the work would come before another ceiling fell in.
Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, grouped by how many channels reported each one. Select a dot to see the source excerpt.
| Claim |  |
|---|---|
| Only on one channel | |
| Hillcrest, the day-to-day management company, said it recognised the seriousness of the roof problems and would contact residents soon. | |
| Leaseholders at Portland View in Bristol reported water leaking through ceilings into flats. | |
| The re-roofing project at the Portland View block had stalled with no resolution in sight. | |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The sole report is a regional BBC News at One package from Cheryl Dennis. It focuses on residents' personal accounts of water pouring through ceilings, the stalled re-roofing project and the confusion over responsibility between landowners, insurers and managing agent Hillcrest. The tone is sympathetic to leaseholders, with the managing agent's statement included but no interview.
- “It feels Like we're kind of trapped here. We can't leave”
- “we haven't been able to use the ensuite for several years”
- “It doesn't really matter to us who's at fault. We just need that action done”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.