By
Mathias Souteyrat
Published on
Sep 18, 2024 at 6:24 AM
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This resident of “Le Corbu” can’t take it anymore. It was nevertheless a childhood dream for Victoire, 42, to live in an apartment in the housing unit (around 1,000 inhabitants) designed by Le Corbusier in Firminy (Loire), very close to Saint-Etienne.
A tenant for three years, his life has become hell.
“We must provide the means”
Cockroaches have invaded his 70 m² home. Bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, cutlery drawer, freezer door… “It’s becoming unbearable.”
I have about twenty cockroaches in the trash every day. It needs a thorough treatment. It doesn’t matter how much it costs. Habitat et Métropole must provide the means.
Victoire pays 490 euros in rent including 150 with charges.
Cockroach bomb, expanding foam, putty to fill holes
Cockroach spray, expanding foam, putty to fill holes… “I’ve spent over €100 on products to treat my apartment.”
She denounces the inaction of her landlord. The last time a company came was in… April 2024. Needless to say, the animals had time to come back.
Victoire is not the only one in this case. Other residents face the same problems. Contacted by telephone, Habitat et Métropole informed this Tuesday, September 17, that it had received around ten reports since the beginning of 2024.
Habitat et Métropole manages 17,366 housing units
Habitat et Métropole was created from the merger of the four OPHs attached to Saint-Etienne Métropole in 2021.
The leading housing operator in the Saint-Etienne metropolitan area, Habitat et Métropole manages a real estate portfolio of nearly 17,366 homes located in 30 municipalities.
For the condominium part of the building, it is disinfected regularly every three months. “Which is much more effective than twice a year.”
The building’s caretaker’s departure is suspended
Organized into an association, residents of the Unité d’Habitation also raised the alarm about the planned departure of the building’s caretaker.
“The social housing landlord who manages the permanent maintenance workers at “Le Corbu” has decided to remove them as of July 31, 2024. Robert and Louisa are essential to the proper functioning of the housing unit: opening the gates, being on call on weekends, changing light bulbs, taking out the trash, neighborhood problems and much more… All the residents are mobilizing (tenants and co-owners) to save their jobs! It is unacceptable for a high-rise building to remain without permanent security!”
The caretaker is expected to remain on probation until the end of December 2024.
The ASL du Corbusier, where Habitat et Métropole is headquartered, is considering using an exterior cleaning company.
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Habitat and Metropolis promises rapid progress
“I’m fed up. I wanted to live here, or even buy. Should we freeze rents to get things moving?” warns Victoire.
We offer each tenant interventions (around a hundred euros to be paid between the lessor and the tenant) to deal with these cockroach problems. All cases are followed up.
After a rise in cases this summer and repeated invasions, “a global response will be provided. It is the responsibility of the ASL (Free Trade Union Association) newly created – a sort of condominium trustee – and not that of the lessor,” explains Armand Jean-Loup.
Good news should be coming. The quote has been validated and the treatment against cockroaches launched quickly for a general intervention in the Corbu’ building.
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