Bristol City Council’s housing waiting list is overwhelmed. Some tenants who desperately need a change of property are simply having to make do with accommodation that’s not fit for purpose, and in the worst cases, completely unsafe.
Life in Lansdowne is an investigative series that sheds light on the issues facing residents of one of the local authority’s tower blocks: Lansdowne Court in Easton. In the context of a wider housing crisis, and the council’s ambition of becoming a so-called ‘high-rise city’, these stories give a voice to people who feel let down by the social housing system.
The tower block’s council tenants – mainly families, many with young children – have spoken out about crime and poor living conditions in the building, and being ignored by authorities. Their serious concerns were heightened in April when a young woman tragically plunged to her death from the 13th floor, sparking a murder investigation.
