A HOUSING association has been taken to court for putting tenants' health and safety at risk.

Failures included raw sewage seeping through property and a collapsed ceiling that was not properly repaired, leaving residents fearful it would collapse again.

The association also contravened fire safety measures, did not control vermin properly and failed to supply and maintain gas, water and electricity.

Fujaltu Housing was prosecuted twice by Lewisham Council for the failures at its Catford properties in Engleheart Road and Plassy Road.

The council claims it had concerns for several months about the conditions tenants were being forced to live in.

Fujaltu is an unregistered housing association, falling outside the jurisdiction of the Housing Corporation, a Government agency which oversees the activities of registered social landlords.

Cabinet member for customer services Councillor Susan Wise, said: "Fujaltu have been neglecting their tenants' needs for a very long time, and in doing so have put their health and safety at risk.

"They are an unregistered housing association and as such have not been answerable for the failings of their organisation until now.

"Lewisham Council has taken them to court for failing in their duty to maintain properties managed by them.

"Tenants have had to endure appalling living conditions and now justice has been done."

On 5 March at Greenwich Magistrates Court, Fujaltu was found guilty of nine offences under Section 234 of the Housing Act at the property in Plassy Road.

It was fined £500 for each offence, making a total fine of £4,500 and ordered to pay costs of £1,200.

In an earlier prosecution at Greenwich Magistrates Court on 30 January, Fujaltu was fined a total of £5,649.40 for two offences at Engleheart Road.

Fujaltu did not attend either court hearing.

The court heard that Fujaltu had continuously ignored all forms of communication from Lewisham Council for months.

A council spokesman said: "If landlords neglect their houses and their tenants, ignoring advice, guidance and formal notices to maintain them, then Lewisham Council will prosecute."