Grotto Tenants in Barbados Say Sewage and Leaks Have Made Homes Unsafe

St Michael, Barbados, 17 August 2026

Tenants at the National Housing Corporation’s Grotto housing complex in St Michael say repeated sewage overflows, water damage and unanswered repair requests have left their homes unsafe, months after the housing minister promised urgent action.

Waste in the living space

Residents, who have lived in the state-provided units since 2017, told Barbados TODAY last Wednesday that conditions at the Beckles Road high-rise have steadily worsened.

A tenant on the second floor said wastewater from the units above regularly backs up into her flat whenever neighbours bathe, flush or use their washing machines. She described waking to find her bathroom flooded with sewage, and said she has had to take time off work several times to clean up. On one occasion, she said, the only way to stop the flow was to shut off the water supply to the whole block.

A ground-floor tenant said water coming through from above first damaged her ceiling in 2019. Part of it was taken down and not replaced until around 2024 or 2025, and even then it was left unsealed. She said the leaks have ruined her television, blinds and towels, and that persistent mould has affected her health.

Promises not yet kept

In April, Minister of Housing, Lands and Maintenance Chris Gibbs announced what he called an “almost immediate” intervention for the complex, saying the NHC had been given money to fix leaking roofs and that sealants had been commissioned.

Tenants say that has not brought lasting relief. Maintenance crews sometimes answer emergency calls, they said, but bigger problems remain, including four-inch drainage pipes they believe should be upgraded to six inches. Some residents have also received notices over rent arrears and possible eviction. They say they have written to housing management and contacted their MP, Kirk Humphrey, with little result. Calls to the minister for comment went unanswered.

What it means for renters

The Grotto case goes to the heart of the relationship between landlord and tenant, whether the landlord is a private owner or the state. Tenants expect prompt, lasting repairs in return for rent, and long delays erode trust on both sides.

For renters in Jamaica, the lesson is to put repair requests in writing, keep dated photographs of damage and keep copies of every exchange. A clear record strengthens a tenant’s position if a dispute over rent or repairs later arises.