Pishtiwan Sofi, a devoted father from Small Heath, has shared his ongoing distress over intruders who have repeatedly invaded the communal areas of his housing block on Mount Pleasant. The situation has escalated to the point where he discovered human excrement left beside his child’s pram, along with discarded cigarettes and general mess littering the hallways.
Mr. Sofi, 36, who works in customer service at a home appliance store, explained that these unwelcome visitors—believed to be rough sleepers—gather nightly in the building’s entrance area. They charge their phones and heaters using the electrical outlets, smoke, and engage in loud shouting that disrupts residents’ peace and safety. This ordeal has persisted for over three years despite numerous complaints.
“I pay £60 a week in service charges, and yet the front door remains insecure. Strangers come and go at all hours,” he said. “They stay from around 10 pm until morning, making it impossible for my family to feel safe. I’ve spoken to the housing manager multiple times since last year, but nothing has changed.”
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In a confrontation, some of the intruders claimed connections to residents, complicating the efforts to remove them. Mr. Sofi expressed his fear and frustration, emphasizing his priority to protect his daughter. “It’s frightening and unsafe, especially with a child involved. Something as disgusting as human waste was left right next to her pram. The doors need to be properly secured, and a thorough investigation should determine how these individuals are gaining access.”
Trident Housing, the managing association, acknowledged the problem and apologized for the prolonged issues. They stated that they have increased staff visits from weekly to daily, liaise closely with local police and homeless outreach teams, and are exploring expanding their concierge services to better monitor building access.
“We take safety seriously and have undertaken repairs, cleaning, and ongoing discussions with residents. We are committed to ensuring the security of the site and urge residents to report any further incidents promptly,” a Trident spokesperson said. They also confirmed plans for continued active presence through various support teams and case reviews, ensuring residents’ safety.
Trident has reached out to Mr. Sofi personally to discuss how they can support him through this difficult situation, reaffirming their commitment to resolving these issues for all tenants.