Hilsea Tower Block Residents Stunned as Landlord Declares Homes Unsafe – Just Hours After Reassurances
Residents of the six-storey Southdown View Apartments in Hilsea were left reeling this evening after their landlord, VIVID Homes, suddenly reversed earlier safety assurances and declared the block unsafe.
From Safety Assured to Unsafe – What Changed?
Southdown View, built on the old Hilsea Bus Depot site and home to 59 flats plus a medical centre and pharmacy, had residents assured in person by a VIVID representative that fire safety was rock solid. “Fire safety has always and continues to be at the top of our agenda,” said a VIVID spokesperson. “We meet all current fire safety requirements and work closely with the fire service.”
Yet come teatime, residents received a blunt letter from VIVID saying the cladding on the block was now deemed unsafe – a stark U-turn that left many shaking their heads.
“We Do Not Believe The Cladding Is Safe”
One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, described the bizarre day. “A bloke from Vivid came round earlier, telling us the cladding met the minimum fire service certification. He said they’d upgrade it anyway, just to reassure everyone. I thought it made sense,” they said.
“Then an hour later, we got this letter handed to us saying, ‘We do not believe the cladding on your block of apartments is safe’ – the exact reason for the planned upgrade! What a turnaround.”
No Comment From Landlord As Residents Left in Limbo
UK News in Pictures reached out to VIVID Homes for a comment on this sudden about-face but got no response. The redevelopment of Southdown View was carried out by Hopkins Mechanical & Engineering and finished in early 2015, but now uncertainty casts a shadow over residents’ peace of mind.
