A 1950s town centre block is so run-down that rainwater is leaking through balconies into the businesses below.
Now council bosses are preparing to consult leaseholders over major repair works at Dolphin House in Market Square, Dover.
The block contains six businesses beneath four flats and eight maisonettes spread across three floors, with traders saying the problem worsens whenever heavy rain hits.
Londis boss Kantthappu Varatharajan, who has run the store for nearly 23 years, says the leaks have become a constant issue.
He told KentOnline: “The worse the rain, the worse the leaking. When it’s heavy rain, it leaks a lot.
“It is at the rear of my bathroom and the water comes from a balcony.
“We’re already paying a maintenance charge of nearly £4,000 every year.”
Dover District Council’s cabinet agreed on Monday to begin the legal consultation process with leaseholders before any remedial work can go ahead.
A council officer’s report says the building was “looking tired” and that patch repairs were no longer enough to deal with the growing problems.
It adds: “Many of the building elements are coming to the end of their life.
“A significant number of water leaks from leasehold balconies through to the commercial premises below means that some of the roof finishes are in need of full replacement.”
The report warns the damage could result in claims being made against the council by affected property tenants.
Dolphin House was built in the 1950s and includes eight commercial units on the ground floor – two of them double units – leased by the council.
The council bought the building in August 2007 as part of wider regeneration ambitions, including potential links between the St James’ area and Market Square.
That was more than a decade before the opening of St James Retail and Leisure Park in 2018.
The proposed work would see existing walkways, balconies and flat roof areas overlaid with a liquid-applied roofing system.
Other repairs include replacing balustrades and railings, as well as repointing and replacing damaged brickwork where necessary.
Other businesses on the ground floor include Chicken Cottage, which replaced KFC last year after the fast-food chain had occupied the site for around 35 years.
