An Australian public housing hoarder home has gone up in flames just days after gardener Nathan Stafford warned it was a fire risk and slammed the housing minister for doing nothing about it.
On Saturday, Nathan Stafford, posted a clip of the Sydney public housing front yard choked with rubbish and broken furniture to his more than three million followers.
In the clip, Mr Stafford said there had been years of complaints from neighbours to Homes NSW about the state of the property and the wellbeing of the tenant with no resolution.
He called on NSW Minister of Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson to do something about it, but his demands were left unanswered.
Mr Stafford said in the video he had called fire authorities who said it was now deemed a fire risk.
According to a statement from Police NSW on Tuesday afternoon, emergency services were called to Mitchell Street, Glebe, following reports of a unit fire.
Fire and Rescue NSW arrived and started to extinguish the blaze – no injuries were reported due to the fire.
Fire authorities were called to the unit in Glebe. Photo: Supplied.
The house has now been boarded up and is now a police investigation. Photo: Supplied
MORE: ‘Come on’: Man slams public housing trash
As soon as the event happened, Mr Stafford said he had community members sending him videos and photos of the fire-torn property, which he then attended shortly after.
“I’m a gardener not a social worker, but unfortunately I come across this a lot because I’m always out in Glebe helping the people,” Mr Stafford said.
“I have been pushing on Rose Jackson on her personal mobile. Nearly three years ago I walked these streets of Glebe with her and she promised me the world.
“I contacted the fire department a few weeks ago just to make sure everything was safe … she didn’t take that matter very seriously.”
According to Mr Stafford, the tenants and neighbours were safe, but a dog had died in the incident.
“Why are housing allowing animals when clearly you can’t move around inside?,” he said.
“Thank god the lady was okay, she didn’t get harmed.”
The damage has left the neighbour, a single mother with two kids also affected, forced to move out of their home, according to Mr Stafford.
In response to the initial video, Ms Jackson’s office confirmed they had been actively working with the tenant in Glebe since May 2024.
Mr Stafford had warned authorities about the risk. Photo: Instagram
In a statement to News Corp Australia, Home NSW spokesperson said Homes NSW is aware of a fire at a social housing property in Glebe last night.
“Homes NSW believes all residents have the right to privacy and security. We have been working closely with the resident and specialist support services to address ongoing property care concerns and will continue to provide support,” the statement said.
“The resident was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance. The matter remains under investigation by NSW Police and Fire and Rescue NSW, and the property is currently under the control of emergency services.
“Homes NSW will continue working with emergency services once their investigations are complete and continue to support the affected resident.”
Mr Stafford said Homes NSW actions were “just not good enough.”
“It could have been prevented and clearly housing doesn’t take that seriously. It’s
It’s a whole load of rubbish – I’m so fed up.”
English (US) · 