TOWER block residents are asking “are our homes safe?” after a crack opened up in a ceiling and the council launched an investigation.

More than 500 people living in high rise blocks in Brighton and Hove have received letters stating a structural survey of their buildings will be carried out next month.

All high-rise buildings being investigated were constructed using the Large Panel System (LPS) – a method which has been linked to serious fire and structural risks.

READ MORE: What are large panel systems?

READ MORE: These are the blocks being investigated

Graham Ennis, who lives in Dudeney Lodge in Hollingdean Road, has a five-foot split in his bathroom ceiling.

The Argus:

Council officers were shown the crack when they came to install a new orthopaedic bath.

He said: “At times there’s been lots of water coming through the crack and pooling up on the bathroom floor.

“After Grenfell I realised I had not been paying proper attention to it because you assume it’s safe.

“When they installed the bath I kept pointing to the ceiling telling them that they need to look at it. I’m not concerned about it being waterproof, I’m concerned about the structural integrity of the building.”

The council has said it is checking all high-rise tower blocks built using LPS following “post-Grenfell government guidance” – a reference to the fire at the block of flats in London which killed 72 people.

READ MORE: What are large panel systems?

READ MORE: These are the blocks being investigated

The Grenfell tragedy has been blamed on the cladding on the outside of the building – but there are no concerns about cladding on Brighton and Hove’s high rise blocks.

Safety concerns about LPS buildings were raised as far back as 1968 after the Ronan Point tragedy in East London. Ronan Point, an LPS tower block, collapsed in a gas explosion, killing four people and injuring 17.

The council letter tells residents the survey will be started on April 1 and that inspectors may need access to their flats.

READ MORE: What are large panel systems?

READ MORE: These are the blocks being investigated

Do you live, or know anyone that lives in these blocks?

Have they noticed any cracks in the ceilings or the use of gas?

Get in contact with The Argus on 01273 021384 or jody.doherty-cove@theargus.co.uk.

A council spokesman said: “We are continuing to follow post-Grenfell government guidance relating to high-rise blocks. Following concerns that have been raised nationally about large panel system blocks, we’ve commissioned new surveys of some of our high-rise buildings to give us a general overview and make sure our records are up-to-date.

“As things currently stand we have no specific concerns about any of these buildings. The inspections are purely precautionary.

“Our intention is to visit Mr Ennis’s home and inspect his ceiling as part of the survey.”