Camden flats so badly built they may need demolition

The trio fear they are “trapped” in properties valued at £0 and deemed “uninsurable” and “unmortgageable”.

But despite years of reports about the building cracking, bending and leaking, the insurance company that provided the ten-year warranty has not paid out.

The three, who claim they have spent £320,000 on legal fees, said they were speaking out to warn others who buy new-build properties that they have “no meaningful protection”.

“For years we’ve been trying but the help isn’t there,” said Daniel Bruce, 38.

“We are the victims. We were sold catastrophically damaged homes. But nobody has got our back.”

Daniel Bruce said fighting for justice had become his 'full-time job' after his £850,000 dream apartment turned out to be 'a nightmare' (Image: Charles Thomson)

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) said: "The situation faced by the innocent residents of Agar Grove is deplorable and we are applying pressure to those involved to reach a just solution."

“Repulsed”

When software engineer Daniel sold his successful tech start-up to a bank, he put down a 75% deposit on an £850,000 apartment at 53 Agar Grove.

Now, he said: “I feel physically repulsed by my computer – because that’s the tool I have to use to fight. I’ve had to become an activist.”

His master bedroom is now closed off due to a terrible smell in the ensuite – believed to be rot, caused by a leak somewhere.

Parts of his ceiling have come down and there are cracks throughout the apartment. Some windows no longer open properly.

“I don’t remember the last time I slept for more than two hours,” he said. “It’s frozen our lives.”

Damage inside Daniel Bruce's flat, to his walls, windows and ceiling (Image: Charles Thomson)

“Trapped”

“We constantly live in fear,” said jewellery designer Alexandra Druzhinin, 49, who paid £900,000 for her apartment, which is also beset by problems.

“We are completely trapped. We can’t get away from this.”

Downstairs neighbour Adam Helal, 58, paid £705,000 for his flat.

There is significant cracking in his terrace wall. His leaking bathroom has damaged his internal walls and part of his ceiling has also come down.

“All the windows are faulty,” he said. “I work in sound and there’s no sound-proofing at all. It’s supposed to be triple-glazed but there’s actually not much difference if you have them open or shut.”

Adam Helal said he had spent roughly £100,000 on legal fees over the ongoing problems with his apartment (Image: Charles Thomson)

Prime Metro Properties

Developer Prime Metro Properties, of Angel Gate, Islington, said it was limited in what it could say, not wanting to "prejudice any future proceedings”.

It said it retained three of the block’s seven flats, so it too “continues to suffer the consequences of the problems which have manifested themselves”.

After problems became apparent in 2020 – including a major leak into the communal stairwell – Prime Metro commissioned an expert survey, which found evidence of movement in the building.

A 2022 survey by a different expert questioned the suitability of the foundations and found the building was unfit for purpose and potentially unstable.

It suggested demolition as a solution.

Damage inside and outside Adam Helal's flat includes a missing ceiling and cracks in internal and external walls (Image: Charles Thomson)

“Since the building began to display problems we have spent a considerable amount of our own money and time investigating, trying to get to the root of these problems, and have taken matters up with various insurers and the warranty providers, at no expense to the other lessees, and continue to do so,” said Prime Metro.

“We remain committed to having this matter resolved and have kept all the lessees appraised of the issues, as well as our efforts.”

“Suicidal”

“Fighting this has become a full-time job,” said Daniel.

“We are a bit suicidal sometimes, aren’t we?” said Alexandra.

“Yea, I scare myself,” he replied.

“I’m just absolutely drained,” said Alexandra. “Not only have we lost the money we spent buying and renovating the flat, and the legal fees – but now we stand a chance of losing everything we own because we can’t get insurance.”

Alexandra Druzhinin said she lived in constant fear of losing everything after her crumbling home was deemed 'uninsurable' (Image: Charles Thomson)

“I don’t consider myself an emotional person, but I’m absolutely distraught,” said Daniel.

“Somebody should have done something by now. New-build buyers need to know that their sign-off certificate doesn’t mean anything and their warranty might be impossible to claim against.”

Acasta European Insurance Company Ltd said it was "the insurer for certain warranty and latent defect policies" at the block.

"Acasta is fully engaged with and is discussing concerns raised regarding the property with all interested parties," it said.

"We take these concerns very seriously and are committed to fulfilling any obligations under the relevant insurance policies."

DLUHC said: "The minister for building safety has written to Acasta to make it clear to them we consider their behaviour unreaonable and we expect them to produce a plan to resolve the issue promptly."