Five families living in a block of apartments in Żejtun say they are in constant danger due to an unfinished common area, including an open lift shaft.

Fed up of chasing the owner of the block, former tourism minister and European commissioner nominee Karmenu Vella, and contractor Anthony Caruana, the families have filed a judicial letter demanding that works in the common areas are completed within a week.

The residents warned they would be reporting the matter to the Health and Safety Authority to investigate the dangers in the building located in Triq il-Falkunier.

Simon and Deborah Spiteri, Kirsten Delia, Charlo Bugeja, Chantelle Theuma, Alan Debono, Irene Cassar and Joseph Baldacchino claimed that, according to the purchase contract, the common area, including the lift, had to be ready by September 2012. Some owners were given an earlier date.

The area was only illuminated after one of the residents tripped and almost fell down the stairs

However, they said, nothing was done and they had to block access to the lift shaft themselves to avoid any serious mishap happening. One of the families had a daughter who was almost three years old.

They complained that they spent years without electricity in the main staircase, adding that the area was only illuminated after one of the residents tripped and almost fell down the stairs.

Through their judicial letter, signed by lawyer Edward Debono and legal procurator Katrina Zammit Cuomo, the families said the handrail was brought from another apartment, the whitewashing was unfinished and careless, there was no skirting on the main staircase, no intercom or safety door existed and the window sills had not been completed.

Moreover, they said, the upper floors that had not been sold were exposed to the natural elements and water seeped into their apartments in winter.

Furthermore, those who had opted to buy a garage together with an apartment were still waiting because the garages were also unfinished.

They said they had recruited a company to take care of the common areas according to the Condominium Act but even this company refused to continue chasing Mr Vella and the contractor.

The apartment owners said they would hold Mr Vella and Mr Caruana responsible in the eventuality of an accident.