Refer to

Mrs Mervelee Myers

16 Alma Grove

Bermondsey

London

SE1 5PY

Our Ref: 111136.001/SJ/AH

Date: 6th November 2024

Email: sara@matrixsolicitors.net

Direct Dial: 0151 319 7165

Dear Mrs Myers

Re: Housing Disrepair and Conditions Case

As you aware we act for you in relation to your case against your landlord.

In law the burden of proof is upon you, as the claimant, to prove your case against your landlord.

We have to prove your case on your behalf as follows:-

1. That there is actionable disrepair present at your address; and
2. That your landlord knew of the actionable disrepair and conditions because you have personally told them or they were on notice in some other way of the conditions before we have become involved in your case.

We prove 1 by obtaining a report from a Chartered Surveyor, an expert. The Surveyor will within his report, set out the disrepair, how each and every defect needs to be addressed and at what cost.

We appreciate it can be difficult to provide all the information we need straight away but can you please gather as much material as possible – the information/evidence – and supply it, if/when you are able to do so? Evidence assists in securing early settlements and thus is crucial in every case.

In relation to 2, we need to know what evidence, if any, you hold in support of your complaints about the conditions – for example:

1. Do you have any emails, texts or letters sent to your landlord and any reply to those complaints? If you do, please forward them. MM Response: 1. Letter dated 29 April 2019 detailed fact my husband who was a painter and decorator maintained the upkeep of the Property from he moved here in 2001. 2. Series of Messages on my Mobile with MCP Property Dated 20 March 2023 to Tuesday 1 October 2024. This is about REPAIRS carried out in the property about the REPORTS I made via telephone calls to those responsible. 3. I have had several conversations with persons from MCP about repairs to be done. I was called on the 27^th October 20224 from a female about the repairs to the toilet seat. That is the date that Dr. Phil Gregory visited. 4. Reference the letter/email about the conversation with the Mental Health Nurse and H4W. I recorded most conversations and will have to track them down. 5. A COMPLAINT was lodged on my behalf about the toilet seat by an employee of H4W. The reference is included in the letter from the MH Nurse. I asked Dr. Phil Gregory to mention I showed him the DISREPAIR when he visited on the 27^th October. 6. 1/2/24 H4W MCP Property Report of Electrical Faults & No Heating Call Log 325823 via email.  

• Do you have any telephone logs as proof of contact or screenshots of telephone conversations with your landlord? Again if you have any then please provide them. MM Response: 16/1/2023 Peju Awoye Customer Portal Link – Wiping of DATA from 2000 with reports of DISREPAIR.  Neighbours Dispute & ASB Case Reference: NC30058 Date: 12/1/2023.    

• You may have reported the complaints via WhatsApp or your landlord’s website reporting Portal. Let us know what dates and what you actually reported and if possible, send us evidence. MM Response: DATA wiped from Customer Portal and I was not allowed to send anything via EMAIL. They were rejected. My complaints were documented on the CUSTOMER PANEL before the DATA were wiped out. I had seen them and added information myself.

• Has anybody else on your behalf reported the conditions to your landlord? If so let us have names and addresses in order that we can attempt to obtain witness statements and or discuss the contact with that party? MM Response: 1. Mimi Owusu and her friend Liz came to my home and saw the condition of the place. They help me to raise concerns. But later turned against me. 2. Mimi Owusu write a 12 page Witness Statement for H4W cataloguing how she helped H4W to cover up the DISREPAIR. 3. Liz targeted me because of a photograph that was taken of me and her at the Front Door when she came to support me. 4. I was contacted by Andrew Jenkins of Talking Therapies 12/2/2022 to make Telephone appointment after Trina Philbert referred me. Because of the ongoing issues to do with the DISREPAIR. 5. The issues about DISREPAIR started when I was asked to do a SURVEY about the CONDITIONS of the PROPERTY. I was honest about the deterioration in the upkeep of the PROPERTY because I was the minute taker for the Scrutiny Customer Panel that was disbanded. I am now a member of the Housing Ombudsman Customer Panel. I was selected for my experiences and skills in advocating for others.   6. The people who advocated on my behalf are dead. 7. Hermoine Cameron who was a member of the Scrutiny Panel was advocating on my behalf. She visited my home twice, but I do not have her address or contact information. 9. Ms H Presley who is having the same problems with H4W can verify I shared my concerns with her.      

• Have you kept a diary of your complaints made to your landlords? If so please let us have a copy – if there is private material in any diary/log which you would prefer not to be disclosed, we can ensure only the relevant notes/entries are disclosed. MM Response: 1. My DAIRY would have been the CUSTOMER PORTAL that was wiped of the data. 2. I started recording conversations with H4W to safeguard myself after Ms Samantha Gibbs and Trina Philbert joined their employment in 2022. 3. I have letters between Ms Gibbs and myself and done recordings that I will have to search for online. 4. I have REFERENCE about calls I made.

• Have you used your landlord’s complaints procedure? If so let us know the result? Did you know of any complaint’s procedure? MM Response: 1. The complaints I raised were GENERAL about the harassment and bullying of the neighbour that would mention issues about reasons for disrepairs. 2. Other concerns of REPAIRS would have been addressed. Like when Pipes were put in by GREEDY CONTRACTORS and I refused for them to put the pipes through my flat to go upstairs. Because of the times Ms Gilchrist flooded the bathroom and H4W had to change the Electrics in the Bathroom. 3. I advocated on behalf of TESS for the pipes not to be put through her flat. After this was done the pipes were left uncovered. I had to ask for the PIPES to be boxed in as I was pulling my heavy trolley over them. 4. I had a FAULTY radiator for over a year. I have recording of the CONTRACTOR complaining to his colleague about it. 5. An electrical casing fell from the ceiling missing my husband who was sat at the kitchen table. It was in the kitchen for months because the landlord said its not their RESPONSIBILITY. They fixed it in the end. 6. The same was done about the fencing. They came to make a gate for the front instead of the back garden. 7. My brother fixed the gate when he visited for my husband’s 101 birthday. 8. The fence is still not fixed. 8. Until Ms Gibbs and Ms Gilbert  started working for H4W when I raised concerns in a SURVEY and I was targeted by H4W, I was getting repairs sorted. 9. The major complaint would be from Ms Gilchrist broke the glass to the Communal Door on the 13^th December 2021 and the length of time it takes for H4W to board it up before replacing the glass. Ms. Gilchrist broke the glass again in May after opening a letter from H4W and leaving it on the mat at my door.   

• Have you informed any employee or contractor of the Landlord of the conditions? If so let us know when you did so and how you did so, and if you know the names of the persons please provide them. MM Response: 1. Concerns were raised in a SURVEY carried out on behalf of the landlord.  2. I was asked if I want the landlord to talk to me about the ISSUES raised. Considering I was the minute taker for the SCRUTINY PANEL I would be aware of concerns of my fellow TENANTS on the PANEL. I have a list of names and minutes of the meeting along with schedules for TRAINING.  3. I have had conversations with PEJU AWOYE about the CUSTOMER PORTAL link and matters that should be added to the portal before my DATA was wiped.

• Do you have a Housing officer/Manager who is in contact with you about your tenancy? Have you told that person about the disrepair and conditions?  If you have, can we have their name(s) and when you have told them. MM Response: 1. Relationship with H4W broke down after Ms Gibbs and Ms Philbert joined in 2022. 2. Ms Candy Smith of Southwark Adult Social Care interviewed my husband and upon hearing of our concerns agreed to mediate on our behalf. Ms Smith arranged the meeting with H4W and visited with Ms Trina Philbert in June 2022. Ms Philbert was the new Housing Officer who started working with H4W in May 2022. I showed Ms Gilbert the property inside and out. I have correspondences between us. I did recordings, but I am not sure I uploaded them online. 3. I have spoken to CONTRACTORS about getting reports when they visited but they are not allowed to give me. I have to go through H4W. 4. On 12^th January 2023 Ms Gibbs bring a male to my door to introduce as my New Housing Officer. He tried to assault me so I moved back inside. 5. The Police were called. 6. H4W set out to harass, bully and intimidate me for raising complaints to the Housing Ombudsman Service about the overall failures and DISCRIMINATION at the PROPERTY.   

• Have you told your GP about the disrepair and conditions? If so, when? MM Response: 1. The GP was aware of the ongoing issues with the landlord. This is one of the reasons I was kicked out of the Nexus Health Group and left without a GP. 2. In getting an injunction to evict and imprison me H4W made allegations about my MENTAL and PHYSICAL HEALTH using the 12 pages witness statement of Mimi Owusu. 3. I was asked to do Psychiatric Assessment and complied. The GP was asked to provide a Medical Report which she did in the end. 4. I have seen other Practitioners and have reports. 5. I am waiting on the report from Dr. Phil Gregory who visited my home on the 27^th October 2024.   5. I was locked out of the Communal Door on the 23/10/2024. Luckily I have someone with me, who got the neighbour to open the door. 6. The Police refuse to visit I have recordings.

1. Has anybody from your landlord or its contractors been to your home and had sight of the disrepair and conditions? MM Response: 1. The landlord is only interested in getting the neighbour to TRIGGER me. They visit to remove the mats my husband bought from we meet in 2001 after leaving letters. The mats were to protect us from things going in the house.  2. Debris from the neighbours window with nails sticking out fall into the garden This was health hazard to my husband and myself whenever we are in the garden. 3. Rubbish was thrown in the garden to upset us. 3. My husband invested in the back and front gardens. Out of spite Ms Gilchrist started cutting the front garden. I came from Church the first time it happened to see her at her window taking photos. When I went inside my husband was sat at the window crying. He said she saw him there and taunted him. I went outside and cursed her. She cut the garden again and I swear at her, before realising what she was doing to me. 4. Each time the garden grows she cuts it down and I refused to react. Because she has plants in her windows at the back and front. 5. A CAMERA has been installed to monitor my movements to harass, bully and intimidate me. I no longer feel safe living at the property. I am a PRISONER in my own home I got through DOMESTIC VIOLENCE because I raised concerns using the Landlord’s Policy and Procedures. And even seeking support from the Housing Ombudsman Service. Instead of the support I was expecting I am accused of making it up.   

If you require assistance or want to discuss this letter, then please do not hesitate to telephone the writer below on 0151 319 7165.

Yours sincerely

Sarah James

Matrix Solicitors

Psychological Medicine and Older Adults Directorate

Southwark Community Mental Health Team

Ground Floor, Marina House

63-65 Denmark Hill

London, SE5 8RS

Tel: 020 3228 2240/6920

Email: SouthwarkMHOADTeam@slam.nhs.uk

www.slam.nhs.uk

Date: 01/11/2024

PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL

Named or duty GP

Silverlock Medical Centre

2 Verney Way

London

SE16 3HA

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­________________________________________________________________________

MEDICAL REVIEW

Re:     Name: Mervalee Myers | DOB: 19/05/1959 | NHS No: 625 090 0543                   

Address: 16A-16B Alma Grove, London, SE1 5PY

Diagnosis	F29 Unspecified non-organic psychosis
Current Psychotropic Medication	Nil
Relevant Physical Health History/Medication	Compressive left common peroneal nerve palsy (2024, resolved) Lumbar back pain Type 2 diabetes mellitus (2018) High cholesterol (2022)

I met with Ms Myers in clinic at Marina House today alongside her allocated care coordinator, Hawa Oweh (CPN).

Background

Ms Myers is a 65-year-old female, not previously known to the Southwark Older Adult CMHT, however previously under working age mental health services. Ms Myers was referred to our team by Dennis Kamara, a mental health nurse in primary care. He requested for an assessment of diagnosis and treatment options, with information that Ms Myers has a long history of low mood and anxiety with some previous underlying trauma and recent stressors including her housing association taking her to court and ongoing disputes with her neighbours.

The following information about Ms Myers’s mental health background is taken from available electronic mental health records.

Ms Myers’ mental health records date back to 2017 where there is a Merlin report from police with concern about Ms Myers struggling with her mental health following a tribunal, with also a mention of her receiving previous support from the Maudsley. This however doesn’t appear to have been followed by input from secondary mental health care. In 2021 there are a number of contacts with the crisis line and referrals to CMHT (working age), outlining concerns about low mood, anxiety and suicidal thoughts for the past 7 years since her mother passed away. Other contributory factors noted included the death of a neighbour the previous year and being charged with criminal damage and attending court in April 2021. Ms Myers had also spoken about the death of her brother and developing depression and an eating disorder as a result of discrimination at work. Another referral to CMHT in 2021 reportedly from Southwark council outlined concerns of Ms Myers feeling police were being sent to kill her. There was also a phone call from a mental health practitioner from the University of East London (student wellbeing service) expressing concerns about Ms Myers’ mental health and possible bizarre and paranoid behaviour.

In 2022 Ms Myers was assessed following a GP referral by the Southwark Assessment & Liaison Team. This assessment noted mental health difficulties appearing to commence in 2014 when Ms Myers was reportedly persecuted in her place of work, having worked as an early year’s practitioner. It was reported that Ms Myers was being accused by her nursery in Southwark of being ‘uncooperative, rude and confrontational’, and was under investigation, and then left due to ill health. Following this, she received 12 sessions of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) at the Maudsley. Following this, Ms Myers had reported not being able to gain paid employment, but had worked voluntarily in mental health research, been involved in various organisations and online podcasts, and was also featured in a book about Windrush. Ms Myers had reported an incident of the police in 2021 attending her home and beating her, and that she now has a criminal record and has been turned down for jobs due to her criminal record check (CRB). She had reported feeling she has been targeted by certain people she used to work with and there was a pattern. The impression of this review was that there was not any clear evidence of depression or psychosis, that past events have been very stressful and that Ms Myers could benefit from further talking therapy. She was then referred to IAPT.

In 2023 and going into 2024 there were a number of referrals to CMHT, due to concerns about Ms Myers’ mental health. There was reference of Ms Myers’ housing association seeking legal action due to antisocial behaviour. In December 2023 Ms Myers was reported to have called 111 herself reporting feeling hopeless about the threat of eviction from her home and having ongoing issues with her neighbours. In March 2023 Ms Myers was brought to A&E by the London Ambulance Service reporting worsening mental health. No evidence of thought disorder or psychosis observed and GP was advised to review Ms Myers and consider a referral to mental health services.

In September 2024 Ms Myers was referred to the Southwark Older Adult CMHT by Dennis Kamara, mental health nurse in primary care. There were concerns related to her behaviour and posting references to suicide in her social media. Ms Myers was seen by Dennis in primary care alongside her son Kevin who had travelled from Jamaica where he lives. There were reported issues with housing, neighbours and family. She has lived in her current address for 23 years and has been having issues with neighbours banging her door and making malicious complaints about her to the police. The housing association has reportedly taken an injunction against her and she is at risk of eviction and the case is currently in court. Her son had reported the reason for this being Ms Myers putting up inappropriate material online about the council and refusing to take it down. Her son had mentioned Ms Myers storing urine for months to throw it at her employer’s property and putting up comments on social media about feeling suicidal, which Ms Myers admitted to, however, stated she would never do this due to her Christian faith. There was also concern from Ms Myers about a camera being placed in the shared communal doorway by her neighbours, that it initially faced towards the street however now has been turned directly at her. She had reportedly denied feeling the neighbours watch her when she is in her flat however, the only issue is when she is coming through the communal front door.

Recent progress

Ms Myers was initially assessed by our team on 08/10/24 at home by Joseph Mukuba, Community Psychiatric Nurse. Following this, I decided to assess Ms Myers myself to help come to a psychiatric diagnosis and consider treatment options.

I have subsequently reviewed Ms Myers in clinic on 16/10/24. During this assessment Ms Myers described to me in detail her background history to date, including the trauma in her upbringing (physical abuse from mother, father dying when she was a young age), and her first marriage to a controlling husband resulting in domestic violence. Ms Myers talked about losing her mother 10 years ago, and around the same time being forced out of working as a nursery nurse and following this receiving therapy. Ms Myers talked about the issues with her neighbours persecuting her, which have worsened over the years, and her recent bereavement of her husband a few months ago.

On 23/10/24 Ms Myers contacted 111 and LAS due to feeling in ‘crisis’ after her grandniece left having stayed with her without saying goodbye. I visited Ms Myers at home on the 25/10/24. During this visit, Ms Myers described in more detail the persecution she reports experiencing from her neighbours, whom she believes are trying to kill her, leading to her feeling unsafe at home. She reported since her husband passed away, she has been more careful in locking her front door and that if she didn’t do that ‘I would be dead’. Ms Myers showed me the doorbell camera her neighbour set up on the outside of the shared front door, and how she believes the neighbour is using this to monitor her coming in and out of her home. Ms Myers talked about her neighbour kicking on her front door every day to provoke her and her belief that her neighbours want to try to provoke her into confronting them, which would then give them an excuse to harm and kill her. Ms Myers has explained to me how she believes other neighbours are also siding against her and that she also feels under threat from the police and housing association, all working together against her.

Neuroradiology

CT head 26/03/24: nil concerns

On review

I summarised the purpose of review to complete the assessment following the referral to our team from Dennis Kamara, primary care mental health nurse.

I asked Ms Myers how she has been since we last met. She talked about the housing association not coming yet to fix her toilet seat, as well as the mould on her kitchen door and the damp in her windowsill. She reported attending her drumming group and doing a performance and spoke positively about this. She brought up about her neighbours continuing to try to provoke her since we last met. Ms Myers spoke about the neighbours ‘stomping’ on the floor loudly to provoke her. Ms Myers agreed that she believed the neighbours were trying to kill her. I recalled her previous statement to me that she believed the neighbours were trying to provoke her so that she would in turn confront them, and this would give them the excuse to try to kill her. Ms Myers accepted this is what she believed. She stated she would not attack them herself and is trying to keep to herself. Ms Myers said recently she stayed at a friend’s house overnight as she didn’t feel safe to return home. I asked about the camera. Ms Myers continued to report that she believed the camera on the doorbell was there to monitor her movements. She said she is trying not to think about this. She stated being more frustrated about her doorbell always being rung.

Ms Myers made a statement about never wanting to ‘give up’. I enquired about whether she experiences suicidal thoughts. Ms Myers stated this has been misconstrued and referenced a poster or piece of literature she was pictured in, that had the quote about people being unemployed, being at risk of suicide, and said this quote was then attached to her. Ms Myers did admit to having last had a suicidal thought in August this year, when her son was visiting her and she talked about her door being kicked. She didn’t report having experienced any plans or intent to act on this. Ms Myers stated there was no chance that she would come to harm via her own means. She has previously stated her Christian faith as a protective factor.

I summarised to Ms Myers what she had explained to me over the last 3 meetings leading to my opinion about her mental health diagnosis. This included Ms Myers’ description of her earlier life and trauma she experienced, the domestic violence in her first marriage which led to her separating and being saved by the housing situation, the loss of her mother 10 years ago around the same time as stopping working as a nursery nurse. Then over recent years with the increasingly difficult situation with her neighbours, beliefs that they are provoking her by monitoring her movements, trying to kill her and banging on her door, leading to her receiving a possession order which may potentially result in her being evicted and a possible custodial sentence due to being in contempt of court. Then more recently the stress of losing her husband. I explained to Ms Myers my impression that as a result of the build up of stress over these years that her beliefs and experiences about the neighbours could be explained by her being unwell with paranoia and psychosis. I explained that this is a condition that we could provide treatment for, including both antipsychotic medication, and psychosocial support, including psychology for psychosis. Ms Myers said in response to this that she had experienced some paranoia in the past. She said she accepted this was my explanation of opinion about her mental health. Ms Myers said she was willing to try medication if it would help. Ms Myers explained she had recently been to her new GP for vaccinations and blood tests, I advised I would check the results of these and then give her a call next week to see whether she would like to go ahead with starting antipsychotic medication. She agreed to this and accepted a patient information leaflet about risperidone. She confirmed having our contact numbers in case needing to get in touch in between appointments. Hawa confirmed she would make an appointment with Ms Myers when she had started on her medication to monitor how she is doing. We also discussed social activities and community groups, Ms Myers knew of Time & Talents and didn’t want to attend there, however appeared keener in Blackfriars.

Mental state examination

Ms Myers presented on time, she was well kempt, wearing a diabetes charity t-shirt, engaged well, reasonable rapport established, maintained eye contact, speech slightly pressured however, interruptible and voice not raised, mood reported as well and objectively appeared euthymic with reactive affect. Mild thought disorder evident with circumstantial responses. Describing persecutory delusional thoughts about neighbours trying to kill her and monitoring her movements. No reported auditory hallucinations and didn’t appear to be responding to unseen stimuli. Appeared well orientated to time and place. Insight partial however took on board opinion about diagnosis and agreed to consider treatment options explained.

Care Plan

1. I have provided written information for Ms Myers for an antipsychotic medication – risperidone. I advised I will check Ms Myer’s most recent blood tests with her GP and call her following this to see whether she would like to start risperidone or not.
2. I will send this assessment letter to Mrs Myers, and she is then able to share this with her solicitor for her current court case.
3. Ms Myers is assigned a care coordinator in our team – Hawa Oweh, CPN – who will monitor Ms Myers’ mental state and risks and support with psychosocial interventions.
4. Hawa Oweh has agreed to make contact with the housing association to support Ms Myers with fixing her toilet seat and other house matters needing repair.
5. Ms Myers confirmed having contact numbers for people to call, including the Samaritans, our team number during working hours (0203 228 2240) and the SLAM crisis line out of hours (0800 731 2864).

Yours sincerely,

Dr Phil Gregory

Signed Electronically

Consultant Psychiatrist

Cc:

GP