BROKEN windows, unlit stairwells, and an infestation of cockroaches have left residents on a private estate ‘living in hell’ since the death of its freeholder five years ago.

People living on the shabby estate in Barbican Road, Greenford, have been unable to track down who is now responsible for the upkeep of the three apartment blocks, since the death of freeholder Tufail Ahmad in 2006.

They have been burdened with unfixed window frames, dirty hallways with insufficient lighting, infestations of vermin, no security access, loose roof tiles which are becoming a health and safety risk, and unkept communal gardens that have attracted flytippers.

With no freeholder or managing agent, the 65 flats do not pay a service charge that would cover costs to maintain the buildings and communal areas.

Flat owner Devon Cowan said the situation is becoming ‘desperate’. He added: “We’re doing the donkey work. We went to the council and local MP and councillors for advice, but they said they can’t help us because it’s private property.

“I came here six years ago. I thought it was nice and I’d like to move in. Things were tidyish but as time went on the cracks began to appear. It’s going on five years now. We’ve seen rats and mice and roaches in other blocks. We want things to change.

“We contacted a solicitors for help, they said it would cost £8,000 to look into - I don’t have that sort of money.”

Another resident, who has lived on the estate for 14 years and asked not to be named, said: “It doesn’t feel like my home. I’d love just to pack up and leave, but we can’t sell the place.

“A few of us try to keep it tidy, but it’s become a sink estate. Who’s going to take responsibility? They have a duty of care.”

Some leaseholders are down to 60 years on their lease, making it increasingly difficult to sell as banks will generally refuse a mortgage with a leasehold of less than 70 years.

With the support of a few friends, Mr Cowan contacted Mr Ahmad’s daughter Humarah Khan who said the estate is still ‘in probate’ as it was left to her then six-year-old step-son.

She told the Gazette: “The estate is in probate. It was left to my father’s now second wife and my step-brother, those two people are in Manchester. I haven’t been in touch with them since 2006, when my father died.”

An absentee freeholder or landlord can be a massive problem for renters and flat-owners. The building may not be properly insured, and if a resident wants to make structural alterations to the property this may be in breach of the lease agreement.

In such cases, residents are advised to apply to the court for a vesting order to buy the freehold, which can cost up to £1,000.