Residents living at a privately managed housing estate in Middlesbrough have raised concerns over security, antisocial behaviour and poor maintenance, with one resident claiming they now “sleep with one eye open”.
People living at The Potteries, off Roman Road in Linthorpe, say years of unresolved issues have left them feeling unsafe. Problems highlighted include broken gates, doors without working locks, fly-tipping, graffiti, damaged windows and signs of damp.
Labour cllr Philippa Storey described conditions on the estate as “awful” during a visit with the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
The estate is managed by Principle Estate Management, which describes itself as an award-winning property management company. Residents currently pay an annual service charge of £2,964.78 for each flat.
One resident, who asked not to be named, said the estate’s bin store gates no longer sit on their hinges, allowing unrestricted access to communal areas.
The development includes around 24 flats across two residential buildings, as well as communal gardens and a car park. It is located next to both a primary school and a nursery.
Cllr Storey said she has repeatedly reported problems to the management company since becoming a councillor in 2019. She claimed some issues had existed for more than a decade. “They’re charging residents a lot of money for management fees and then not doing any repairs,” she said.
Residents say automatic entrance gates no longer close properly, undermining the purpose of the gated development.
During the visit, evidence of fly-tipping was visible around the bin store. The resident also claimed a homeless man had recently been found sleeping among the bins.
Cllr Storey described conditions around the waste area as “grim”. She said Principle had previously promised to prioritise repairs to the bin store but alleged little progress had been made.
Looking around the buildings, further problems included broken door handles, missing locks, damaged windows, exposed cables and evidence of previous leaks and condensation.
Cllr Storey said residents had previously resorted to using pliers to open one communal door because the handle was broken.
The resident also alleged he was assaulted by people who did not live on the estate in 2025. He claimed he was pushed and spat at inside a communal area. He also alleged groups regularly gathered inside the buildings and corridors, leaving residents feeling unsafe. “I sleep with one eye open,” he said.
Additional allegations included drug dealing in an alleyway near the estate, smoking inside communal areas and damage caused by vandalism.
The resident said promises made during previous visits by Principle representatives had not resulted in lasting improvements.
One visitor sign-in sheet on the estate was last completed in January 2025.
In response, Principle Estate Management said it takes reports of antisocial behaviour seriously.
A spokesperson said the company is working with homeowners and police while consulting residents about improvements to estate security. “We take any occurrence of antisocial behaviour very seriously and are in regular correspondence with Middlesbrough Police,” the spokesperson said.
“We are actively consulting with homeowners about the work required to better secure the grounds and remain committed to working with them and Cllr Storey to progress these works and make The Potteries a safer place to live.”
Cleveland Police said it was not aware of ongoing issues specifically affecting the estate but encouraged residents to continue reporting incidents.
A spokesperson said: “If we know what is happening, we can do something about it.”
