More than 100 residents of Goodrich Mews in Upper Gornal, Dudley, have been told to pay £6,000 each to cover the cost of repairs to the wall, which has left some homeowners unable to use their gardens for the past two years.
Sonia Kumar, MP for Dudley, said 42 residents turned out to a meeting at Upper Gornal Methodist Church asking for help with their situation.
The former business park off Jews Lane was redeveloped for housing by Taylor-Wimpey in 2013, but within four years problems began to emerge with a retaining wall at the site which protected the properties from a cliff edge.
The wall was repaired in 2017, but by 2023 it was showing signs of collapse again.
Residents have been told that this time they are liable for repair costs thanks to an agreement struck between the housebuilder, the company that built the wall, and the property management company.
Residents argue they are not responsible for its maintenance but have been told they must cover the costs due to a legal agreement struck between Taylor-Wimpey, the company which built the wall, and the estate’s property management company. That agreement—signed after the wall’s first collapse—absolves all the companies involved of future responsibility, leaving homeowners to foot the bill.
At the meeting Miss Kumar pledged to raise the issue directly with the relevant parties.
“This situation is deeply unfair,” she said.
“Ordinary families should not be left to pick up the tab for a wall that has already failed once and which they believe is not their responsibility to maintain.
“The fact that residents are being asked for £6,000 each is shocking and unacceptable.
“I will be pressing both the builder and the estate’s property management company to come back to the table and work with residents on a fair solution.”
She also highlighted the wider implications of cases like this for homeowners across Dudley: “This isn’t just about bricks and mortar—it’s about trust, accountability, and ensuring that residents are not exploited by complex agreements that strip them of basic protections.”
Miss Kumar said she would write to all parties involved demanding urgent discussions, and would explore legal or regulatory remedies to protect affected households.
