Ex-tenant's warning over 'damp, bug-infested' flats

A man who reported cockroaches, fleas, damp and faulty fire safety equipment to his letting agent over his five-year stay in a tower block has warned others about the condition of the flats.

Richard Spencer moved into Prosperity House, Derby, in September 2020 but said he saw a significant decline in standards before he left the premises and still awaits the return of his deposit.

"It turned into a place that was only just habitable. Whoever takes on the apartment, I worry about a potential Grenfell-type scenario," Spencer said.

Property managers Premier Estates said it recognised the building had a number of maintenance issues but the fire alarm system was "maintained and operational".

It added a funded programme of works was under way, and that "resident safety remains our highest priority".

The father-of-two moved to the eight-storey building in Gower Street with the ambition of rebuilding his life after separating from his wife.

During Covid lockdown, Spencer said the building was "fine" but as restrictions began to lift, he said the flats started to deteriorate.

"There were serious damp problems, we'd have homeless people living in there, you name it, fire alarm going off at all hours," he said.

"The flat was infested with bedbugs, silverfish, carpet beetles and cockroaches in the common areas."

Spencer said he took one of the insects in a jar to the Derby office of his letting agency, Nicholas Humphreys, to show staff the issues with the building, alongside photographic evidence.

He said he was disappointed with the response when they suggested he contact Premier Estates and the problems continued.

Premier Estates said it took all reports about living conditions and building safety seriously and investigated any concerns raised.

Nicholas Humphreys has yet to respond to the BBC's request for a comment.

"No money was being spent on it. So is it right that an agent is renting a place out under false pretences?" Spencer said.

"Somewhere that's infested with bugs, may not have a reliable working fire alarm, there's lots of families in there - that was one of the main reasons I had to get out," he said.

By November 2025, Spencer had saved a deposit to move out of Prosperity House and handed the keys back to Nicholas Humphreys.

He was informed that he was in arrears and his deposit was not returned.

Spencer has said he owes two weeks rent and has offered to pay Nicholas Humphreys once his deposit has been returned.

He added he was sharing his experience to warn prospective tenants and encourage other people living in sub-standard conditions to speak up.

"This is not just about me, this is about other potential tenants that could be treated the same way," he said.

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