The city centre block with repeated break ins, vandalism and no working lift that's a 'disaster waiting to happen'

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Life in one city centre apartment block is just 'a disaster waiting to happen', a former insider has said, amid fears for residents' security.

Tenants in Bracken House, on Charles Street, have been blighted by break-ins and vandalism, as well as not having a working lift for four years. The Manchester Evening News spoke to a man who used to work with the building's maintenance teams as well as an ex-tenant.

Both said that the lift had been out of action for years. They also spoke about a raft of other problems, including hot water not being available to residents.

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“People are saying they will not live there [in viewings] and it’s having an effect on the landlords,” the insider, who asked to remain anonymous, said. “It’s a disaster waiting to happen and it is getting closer and closer.”

Bracken House is popular with students because of its location near Manchester University's North Campus. Inspired Property Management (IPM), who oversee the building, say the issue of break-ins has ‘eased’ with a raft of measures being put in place.

But, former tenant Dan - who asked to only be referred to by his first name - who left the block after five years earlier this year, said it has got ‘harder and harder to live in the building’. He added: “Five years ago the lift was working and we had fire marshals that patrolled the building. There was a staff of four people on patrol. In 2018 or 2019 the lift [broke] and has not since.

“I was on the sixth floor — it does not have a fourth floor — so I had to walk. It got harder and harder to live in the building. The hot water does not always work because there are only two boilers.

“The major issue was at the