Rental Wall Collapse Killing Grandmother Could Have Been Prevented, Coroner Rules

Concerns about a crumbling wall that collapsed and killed a 77-year-old grandmother were raised eight years before the tragedy, an assistant coroner has determined.

Clarice Berry died from chest injuries on July 18, 2021, after the 3,800kg gable wall of her rental property in Wigan fell on her.

Assistant coroner for Manchester West, Bronia Hartley, ruled in a prevention of future deaths report that Mrs. Berry's death could have been prevented if action had been taken to repair the wall. The coroner stated that concerns about the wall were repeatedly brought to attention but no action was taken, despite multiple inspections of the home highlighting the need for 'urgent' repairs.

Mrs. Berry's husband had reportedly raised concerns about the bowing wall nearly eight years prior to her death. The property, an end-of-terrace rental in Greater Manchester, was owned by S&G Properties (No2) Limited and managed by KMPM.

According to the coroner's report, signs of cavity wall tie erosion were present from 2013. A property manager from the previous managing agent, Kaye Mackenzie, noted in August 2013 that the gable wall had a significant bulge and needed 'urgent repointing/rebuild.' A subsequent visit in March 2016 also indicated the gable 'needs repointing.'

Kaye Mackenzie was wound up in January 2020, and one of its former partners continued the property management under the company KMPM. The bulge in the wall was noted again around February or March 2021 by a gas engineer installing a new boiler, but no repairs were initiated.

Investigations after Mrs. Berry's death revealed that the collapse was caused by the complete failure of wall ties in the upper part of the cavity wall below the gable. Evidence presented at the inquest suggested the wall's collapse was inevitable without necessary repairs and likely would not have survived another winter.

Ms. Hartley stated that any reasonably competent property management company or landlord would have at least monitored the wall for progression and, by 2018, would have commissioned a structural survey. She found that such investigations would have prevented the fatal collapse.

The coroner determined that neither the landlord nor the property management company had followed government guidance to minimize potential hazards. Ms. Hartley also noted a lack of clear systems to prevent similar incidents, such as a failure to appropriately or timeously respond to reported hazards, or to identify hazards not brought to the tenant's attention.

Neither company conducted a post-incident evaluation to ensure their properties were free from serious, outstanding hazards. In response, a director for S&G Properties (No2) Limited expressed sadness over the tragedy and stated the company has arranged for independent inspections of all its residential properties. KMPM indicated it has conducted a comprehensive review of its procedures and implemented changes to inspection, hazard identification, escalation, compliance monitoring, and project management processes.