A group of neighbours have been left with little more than the clothes on their backs after a big fire ousted them from their homes - and are still homeless a week on.

The tenants of the six flats in Bitterne Road West were evacuated last Saturday (August 10) when a fire ripped through a neighbouring house.

Since then, they have not been able to retrieve their possessions - and say they have been left in the dark about when they can go home.

READ MORE: This is the cause of the fire on Bitterne Road West

“I feel completely lost and don’t know where to go,” said 49-year-old Leonardo Carvalho, who has lived in his Bitterne Road West flat for four years.

“All I have are my clothes and my flipflops, all my valuables are inside.”

Firefighters tackle a blaze at Bitterne Road West on Saturday, August 10 (Image: Newsquest)

Fellow neighbours Sadie Deacon, 34, Joel Chukwuka, 35, Thusego Disele, 29, and Mosikari Boy Badisa, 31, have also been forced to sleep in hotels or with friends and family.

Sadie said: “I had my phone and my housekeys and then came outside to basically watch our lives go up in smoke.

“I know it’s not the landlord’s fault but there’s been no support for us, and we’ve been left to fend for ourselves.

“During the fire the alarm didn’t go off and if it wasn’t for Leonardo knocking on my door, I dread to think what might have happened.”

Joel said: “Currently I don’t have a place to stay. Ninety per cent of my belongings are inside the property; all I could grab was my passport and the clothes I’m wearing, I’ve been wearing for days.

“Right now, I’m effectively homeless. We need help.”

The building is managed by City Lettings Southampton, which since the fire has offered them the opportunity to end their contracts early, and return their deposits.

An email from the landlord said they did not have 'an accurate timescale... regarding when it will be safe to live in the flats again', adding: "We will keep you informed about collecting your furniture and things once the building is confirmed safe enough to enter."

However none of the group want to leave their homes - and say there has been limited response from the landlord since this email.

“We need proper communication from the landlord, so we know what’s going on rather than trying to get us to opt out of our tenancies,” said Sadie.

“I understand they are losing money too, but these are our homes. Everything we have in the world is being left to rot with no answer as to what we’re supposed to do next.”

A fire investigation has revealed the likely cause of the blaze as works to the roof of the affected building.

The Echo has contacted City Lettings Southampton for further comment.