THE OWNER of filthy student flats has apologised after new tenants had to move into grubby buildings.

The Marybone building in Liverpool city centre had apparently not been cleaned or repaired since last year’s students moved out.

New students turned up at the block of flats this week to find rooms with mouldy showers, food trodden into carpets and missing doors.

At least two students refused to stay in the flats and say they now want their deposits back.

Marybone’s owner, Cosmopolitan Student Homes said it had struggled to clean the flats after a lightning strike cut the power to one of the blocks.

The ECHO also understands it sacked its contracted cleaners after a row.

Danielle Aird and Aimee Roberts, both 18 and from Litherland, tried to move in last weekend, but say they walked out in disgust.

Danielle, who is due to start a nursing course at Liverpool John Moores University, said: “When I walked in, the corridor was all dirty.

“The handle from my bathroom was also on the floor.

“There were doors missing from the kitchen cupboards and there was a hole in the wall.