Beech and Willow Rise, Kirkby

These buildings are privately owned and not owned or managed by Knowsley Council.

However, we want to offer as much help and advice about the steps you now need to take.

The decision not to repair the buildings, and to end the waking watch, was taken by the buildings’ management company – Parklands (Kirkby) Management Company Limited - not Knowsley Council or Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS).

The Council was notified that the company intended to end the waking watch on Wednesday 21 May 2025, which would have left residents with very little time to move out their belongings and find somewhere else to live. The Council therefore took the decision to take over the waking watch and extend it for a limited time to prevent an emergency evacuation of the buildings.

As we do not own or manage these buildings, we may not be able to answer all your questions – but we will help as much as we can.

Knowsley Council does not own Beech Rise or Willow Rise – they are privately owned. The Council has not had any previous involvement in the maintenance (or lack of) within the buildings.  The buildings require multi-million pounds of investment which the Council does not have. In order to support residents and give them more time to find alternative accommodation, the Council has agreed to extend the waking watch for a short period of time.

If the building is placed under a prohibition order, you may be unable to return to the buildings. We strongly recommend that residents consider the housing options that may be available to them in the event that this happens. That could be with friends or family or by checking property websites and social media for advertised homes which would meet your needs.

If residents are unable to make alternative arrangements for themselves, the Council may be able to offer temporary emergency accommodation, but this may need to be in hotels and or bed and breakfasts and could be outside of Knowsley simply based on availability of accommodation. Depending on residents’ individual circumstances it may be that they need to contribute towards the cost of such.

Any residents that feel they may need such support in the event of the buildings being prohibited are urged to contact the Council’s Housing Solutions service for more information.

W: Visit www.knowsley.gov.uk and search ‘housing solutions’
T: 0151 443 2333
E: housingsolutions@knowsley.gov.uk (Please include Beech or Willow Rise in the subject line to allow us to answer your email more quickly)

The waking watch will end on Monday, 21 July at 12 midday. At that point, we understand that Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service will serve a prohibition order on the buildings, meaning residents must leave immediately. Re-entering the building will be prohibited by law, so you are advised to remove all personal belongings, including furniture, from the building by this date.

We understand that you may not be able to immediately secure permanent accommodation and would advise you to consider alternative arrangements in the short term. We know that this may not be easy and we are offering help and assistance where possible. Help and advice is available by contacting the council’s Housing Solutions service:

W: Visit www.knowsley.gov.uk and search ‘housing solutions’
T: 0151 443 2333
E: housingsolutions@knowsley.gov.uk (Please include Beech or Willow Rise in the subject line to allow us to answer your email more quickly)

You need to take everything with you on or before 21 July 2025. Items cannot be left in the communal areas. These areas need to be kept clear at all times as any blockages in the communal areas increases the fire risk and creates hazards should the building need to be evacuated / blocks access to the fire escapes.

Whilst the waking watch is in place, there are suitable measures in place to warn and inform you in the event of an emergency.

However, when the waking watch ends at 12 midday on 21 July 2025 no such measures will be in place which is why the prohibition notice will be issued and remaining in the buildings will be prohibited by law. The buildings will be deemed to be unsafe for you to stay in.

The prohibition notice is intended to protect residents from unsafe buildings. The condition of both buildings is poor, with no working fire alarms in either building. The safety of all residents has to be the main priority.

A waking watch can only ever be a temporary solution – it is intended as a last resort whilst essential maintenance is carried out to ensure the safety of the building.

The waking watch was previously funded by the Resident Management Company – they stopped funding this after 21 May 2025. In order to prevent the need for an emergency evacuation, Knowsley Council stepped in to provide this waking watch, at a cost of almost £3,000 per day.

As no plans have been forthcoming to address the building safety issues, the Council is no longer able to fund this waking watch beyond 12pm midday on 21 July 2025. As there have been no improvements to the safety conditions of the building, Merseyside Fire and Rescue will serve a prohibition notice which declares the building to be unsafe and unfit to be occupied. At this point, all residents must leave.

When the waking watch ends, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service will serve a prohibition notice on the buildings, which means entering the buildings will be prohibited by law. It is a criminal offence to fail to comply with a prohibition notice. This means if you remain in the building or enter the building once the prohibition notice is served you could be arrested by the police and could be liable for prosecution by MFRS.

The maximum sentence the court can impose for this type of offence is 2 years imprisonment. Therefore, you must vacate the property. Without the waking watch, and given the poor condition of the buildings, your safety within the building cannot be guaranteed.

For that reason, we are advising residents to urgently make arrangements for alternative accommodation from 12pm midday on 21 July 2025.

If you are at risk of homelessness, please register as soon as possible for Property Pool Plus. You can do this by visiting www.propertypoolplus.org.uk or calling 0151 443 2333.

If you are experiencing financial hardship as a result of moving home, there are some existing schemes that may be able to help. Please take a look at the Council’s Emergency Support Scheme for more information – visit www.knowsley.gov.uk and search for ‘emergency support’.  If you cannot apply online, you can ring our contact centre on 0151 443 3200, and one of our advisors will take your application over the phone. Lines are open Monday to Friday 9am to 4.45pm.

Support with the cost of food and other household essentials is available through a number of community organisations.  Details of what is available and how to access it can be found by visiting www.knowsley.gov.uk/knowsley-offer

Sometimes grants are available if you meet specific criteria.  Use the Grants Search on the Turn2us website to see if you could be eligible for a grant which you will not need to repay.  You may also be eligible for benefits and other entitlements you are not aware of.  Claiming these will increase your income – visit Turn2us and use their ‘benefits calculator’ to see whether you are missing out.

Citizens Advice Knowsley can offer help with welfare benefits, debt and financial support.  As well as offices in Huyton and Kirkby, you can visit their website or call their advice line for help and support. Find out more by visiting www.citizensadviceknowsley.org.uk or call 0808 278 7839.

You may need to hire a van or instruct a removal firm to assist with this or ask friends and family to help you.

You may be able to receive help with removal costs, but you must be in receipt of Housing Benefit or Universal Credit which includes the housing element. You will need to make a claim for a Discretionary Housing Payment, visit the Knowsley website - Discretionary housing payments.

There may also be support through the Council’s Emergency Support Scheme. Further information is available on the Council’s website.

If you want to dispose of large or heavy items which won’t go into your household waste bin, you can arrange for them to be collected separately. Further information about bulky waste collection can be found on the Council’s website.

You must not leave rubbish or bulky items on corridors or in communal areas. The building management company has withdrawn the caretaker so this will not be removed. Please be respectful of your neighbours who will also need clear access to these areas to remove their belongings too.

Please make sure you take any pets with you. If you are unable to bring your pet to your new accommodation, please make alternative arrangements for them. Do not leave pets in the property when you leave.  The Council’s Dog Warden can provide advice – email environmentalhealth@knowsley.gov.uk or call 0151 443 4712.

You will need to speak to your landlord to discuss the situation. You may also want to seek legal advice or help from an organisation such as Citizens Advice.

This is not something that the Council can advise on. Owners of properties within the building should speak with their building insurance providers, mortgage lenders and/or legal advisors for advice based on their own specific circumstances.

Further information about legal rights is also available via Citizens Advice. This can be accessed by visiting their website https://www.citizensadviceknowsley.org.uk/, calling their free Adviceline on 0808 278 7839, sending a Whatsapp message to 0151 294 6309 or emailing advice@citizensadviceknowsley.org.uk 
 

You should contact your mortgage provider and explain the situation and they will be able to outline their position. Again, you may also want to seek legal advice or help from an organisation such as Citizens Advice.

Also, you’ll need to notify your insurance company if you have contents insurance.

If you vacate your property at Beech Rise or Willow Rise, an exemption from Council Tax at that address will be granted but you will need to inform us of your new address (even if this is a temporary address). You can inform us of a change of address here.

You can do this here or by calling the Council Tax line on 0151 443 4476. This phone number can also be used to obtain further information regarding Council Tax at your new address.

You will need to contact your energy company as well as water and broadband companies.

If you move, remember to cancel any subscriptions you have that are linked to your address at Beech Rise or Willow Rise.

You will also need to contact your GP, dentist, school, employer, DVLA if you have a driver’s licence, TV licensing, HMRC (for example if you claim child benefit), Department for Work and Pensions (if you are a Universal Credit claimant or in receipt of any other Benefits).

If you are renting your property, you should contact your landlord to give them notice of your intention to move out. Please note, you may be liable to continue paying rent so make sure you check the terms of your tenancy. 

You may also wish to seek legal advice either from your own solicitor, or via Citizens Advice Bureau. 

Having to move and having uncertainty about the future can be a source of worry and stress – you’re not alone and help and support is available.

If you no longer feel able to cope and need urgent help, call the NHS Mental Health crisis line.  NHS staff will support you to get the help you need. Available 24/7 - call NHS 111 and select the mental health option. If your life is at imminent risk, please call 999 for immediate help.

You can also contact the Samaritans - a safe place to talk 24 hours a day about whatever is troubling you. Call 116 123.

Shout is a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging service for anyone in the UK who needs support. Text “Shout” to 85258. If you are struggling to cope and need to talk, trained Shout Volunteers are here for you.

You can also speak to your GP if you need help or if you are worried about someone else.

You can also access help and support online by visiting www.kindtoyourmind.org. There are other sources of support listed on the Council’s website here. 
 

That is a matter for the management company and buildings’ owners. The buildings are privately owned and are not owned or managed by Knowsley Council.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service has been clear that unless the necessary remedial works are carried out, the building will remain subject to a Prohibition Order which prevents people from living there.

Should this happen, the Council will work with the management company and partners to manage the long-term security of the buildings.

Knowsley Council isn’t able to advise on this. It is a matter for you to take up with your insurance company, legal advisor or with the buildings’ management or freeholder direct.

Further information about legal rights is also available via Citizens Advice. This can be accessed by visiting their website https://www.citizensadviceknowsley.org.uk/,  calling their free Adviceline on 0808 278 7839, sending a Whatsapp message to 0151 294 6309 or emailing advice@citizensadviceknowsley.org.uk 
 

Like any privately owned property, the repair, maintenance and upkeep of it is the responsibility of the building owners.

It is usual in multi-occupied premises such as Beech & Willow Rise for the individual property leases to set out the maintenance responsibilities of both the landlord(s) and occupier. Where a landlord retains responsibility for elements of maintenance, they ordinarily seek to discharge these responsibilities via a management company or residents’ management company. This could include items such as building insurance, cleaning of common areas, decoration, utility costs as well as repairs and ultimate replacements of items such as ventilation, lifts etc.

In order to cover the costs of this, the management company will usually charge occupiers an annual service charge, and they must ensure that this raises enough money to cover the costs of the above.

The council is aware that there is a Management Company in place at Beech & Willow Rise (and has been for some time). They are Parklands Kirkby Ltd.

However, we are unaware of:

• what the legal structure is in terms of maintenance liabilities within the two blocks and who is therefore responsible,
• what service charge arrangements in place,
• If residents have been making such payments and
• If they have, what that money has been spent on.

Unfortunately, it would be for the Management Company to provide residents with answers to these questions, as only then will residents be able to determine why this situation has arisen. Clearly the issues affecting the blocks have developed or a prolonged period of time.

These buildings are privately owned and are not owned or managed by Knowsley Council. We are only able to operate within the legal powers that we have, and we are not able to use public funds to cover costs that are the responsibility of the buildings’ owners.

We have met with the Government around what support is available as well as meeting with parties involved in the ownership and management of both buildings. One such party had previously indicated that they may step in to carry out some of the essential repairs that are urgently needed. However, they have now told us they are not yet able to confirm what works, if any, they will undertake. They do intend to continue investigating possibilities, but this will take some time. They have also advised that the extent of any works needed (if they are feasible) would, in any case, mean the building would need to be vacated for a prolonged period. They have also stated that the cost of these works would have to be funded via the service charges. For that reason, they do not intend to continue the waking watch once the current watch – put in place temporarily by the Council.

Due to the lack of clarity over whether repairs will be carried out, the Council cannot fund the waking watch indefinitely, but it will continue to fund it for a further short period – until midday on 21 July 2025.

Our Environmental Health team has undertaken numerous site visits in recent years. In some cases, we have placed prohibition orders on individual properties and supported residents to be rehoused. We have gone above and beyond our statutory responsibilities to try and secure the best possible outcome for the residents of Beech Rise and Willow Rise, including multiple offers to support and working with the management company to identify the steps needed to ensure compliance with relevant legislation.

It must be noted that the Council is only able to take action related to individual properties within the building, not the building as a whole (this is something only MFRS are able to do).

We were informed in May 2025 that the building management company did not have the funds to carry out the necessary repairs, or continue its waking watch past 21 May 2025. If that waking watch had ended on 21 May, MFRS would have placed a prohibition order on the buildings, and all residents would have had to immediately leave the buildings.

In order to prevent an emergency evacuation, Knowsley Council took over the waking watch, in order to give more time for residents to make alternative arrangements. With the managing agent stating that no funds were available for the necessary remedial works, the extension of the waking watch could only delay the need to move from the buildings, rather than prevent it.

A series of community surgery events have been taking place at Centr 63, Old Hall Lane, Kirkby and a further 4 sessions have been confirmed:-

• Tuesday 1 July: 1-5pm
• Saturday 5 July: 9am -1pm
• Thursday 10 July: 4-8pm
• Wednesday 16 July: 9am- 1pm

Throughout this, the Council has been in regular contact with residents and wrote to them again on Thursday, 26 June to inform them that this now means that when the Council’s Waking Watch ends, at midday on 21 July 2025, that they will need to vacate the buildings.

If you need this information in another language or format, please call 0151 443 2333.

Knowsley Housing Solutions

W: Visit www.knowsley.gov.uk and search ‘housing solutions’
T: 0151 443 2333
E: housingsolutions@knowsley.gov.uk (Please include Beech or Willow Rise in the subject line to allow us to answer your email more quickly)

Property Pool Plus

W: https://www.propertypoolplus.org.uk/
T: 0151 443 2220
E: knowsley.propertypoolplus@knowsley.gov.uk (Please include Beech or Willow Rise in the subject line to allow us to answer your email more quickly)
Alternatively, you can use the online chat option on the council’s website. 

Citizens Advice

W: https://www.citizensadviceknowsley.org.uk/
T: 0808 278 7839 (Adviceline Freephone)
WhatsApp:  0151 294 6309
E: advice@citizensadviceknowsley.org.uk

Environmental Health

If a resident has concern about the condition inside their flat

T: 0151 443 4712
E: environmentalhealth@knowsley.gov.uk
W: Environmental health | Knowsley Council

Mental Health support

W: www.kindtoyourmind.org
T: NHS 111 and select the Mental Health option or call your GP