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Investigations

Uncovering injustice and wrongdoing

‘Crisis’ extends housing misery for Lockleaze buyers, as L&G admits mould issues on sister scheme

Modular homes at Legal & General's Bonnington development will be taken off their foundations, leaving buyers waiting up to a year, while serious mould problems had to be fixed at another scheme in Yorkshire, the Cable can reveal.

After the fall: a death at Lansdowne Court

A vulnerable woman falls to her death from a tower block. Her partner is present. In this special Cable investigation, we try to find out what happened to Shannon Beirne.

Rogue landlord yacht owner turns to Airbnb after fleecing tenants’ of their deposits

Thomas Flight, whose Miss Conduct yacht sits in Bristol Harbour, has been convicted of a series of offences against his previous tenants but his properties are now on the short-term let market.

Revealed: ‘Miss Conduct’ yacht owner is rogue landlord who spun ‘web of deceit’ to mislead tenants

Thomas Flight hid behind aliases and fake addresses, and deployed aggressive ‘agents’ to deny people living in his St Paul's flats their rights as tenants.

Revealed: Serious incidents ongoing at controversial south Bristol flats, despite council review

Minutes obtained by the Cable show ongoing problems at Imperial Apartments in Hengrove, with concerns being raised over tenants' mental ill-health, energy costs, the 'unwelcoming' environment and the behaviour of security staff.

Bristol council was warned of polystyrene cladding dangers long before tower block blaze, so why didn’t it act sooner?

The Cable quizzes Bristol City Council's housing chief on the ‘urgent’ rollout of new high-rise fire safety measures, how much it’s all going to cost, and why the authority didn’t act faster.

‘A tragic reflection on society’: the Bristolians jailed for sleeping rough, and feeding pigeons

Civil injunctions used to tackle anti-social behaviour can end up punishing vulnerable people, to little good effect. Is there an alternative?

An arson attack. A pig’s head dumped outside. Eccleston House residents are traumatised, and their concerns have been met with silence.

The Cable investigates how flammable cladding fuelled a fire at the tower block, the impact it’s had on the community, and why the council’s communication is making matters worse.

From exclusion zones to convictions: How Bristol’s rough sleepers can be criminalised under controversial notices

The government has promised to scrap the Vagrancy Act, but campaigners fear this long-awaited reform could mean the use of other powers to target homeless people will become more widespread.

Revealed: Parents taking legal action over mistreatment of son at special needs school

A former worker has also shed light on what happened before St Christopher's closed in 2019 and police investigated child cruelty.

Revealed: The Disabled Bristolians waiting months and years to live in accessible homes

Housing adaptations for Disabled people should offer independence – but for many it's a prolonged bureaucratic nightmare.

Would a database that names and shames rogue landlords help protect renters?

London renters can access a searchable database of enforcement actions against landlords. Could something similar help people navigate the minefield of finding somewhere to live in Bristol?

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