Martin Ford 06 March 2023

London boroughs taken to task over housing failings

London boroughs taken to task over housing failings image
Image: I Wei Huang/Shutterstock.com.

Haringey and Lambeth LBCs have pledged to take action to address housing shortcomings.

The Regulator of Social Housing found Haringey breached health and safety requirements by failing to take action over fire risks and not having up-to-date electrical safety reports for thousands of homes.

More than 100 homes also had serious ‘category one’ hazards and nearly 5,000 did not meet the Decent Homes Standard.

Director of consumer regulation Kate Dodsworth said: ‘The council needs to act urgently to put things right for tenants and we are monitoring it closely as it does this.’

Haringey apologised to residents, adding: ‘The council has taken a series of actions to ensure the number of overdue actions starts to rapidly come down since we initially reported the figures to the regulator in December.’

The Housing Ombudsman has also named Haringey as the landlord that received the most complaint handling failure orders in the past quarter, with four.

Of a total of 38 orders, 14 went to local authorities.

The ombudsman is carrying out a separate wider investigation at Haringey.

Housing secretary Michael Gove has separately ‘demanded answers' from Lambeth LBC about its 'failure to handle complaints’.

The council was recently the subject of a severe maladministration finding from the ombudsman regarding complaints over damp and mould.

A council spokesperson said it had assigned 10 new firms and a new in-house team to repairs and maintenance.

They added: ‘This is part of our wider work to proactively reduce instances of disrepair and resolve them in partnership with our residents, including home health checks and a rapid response team to respond to any reports of damp and mould.

‘We’re committed to continuing these improvements and acting quickly to resolve problems when they are brought to our attention.’

This article was originally published by The MJ (£).

Banning urban pesticide use image

Banning urban pesticide use

RSPB and PAN are working on a letter from local councillors calling on the Government to introduce a national ban on urban pesticide use. Find out more below.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Domestic Abuse (Perpetrator) Prevention Worker

Essex County Council
£30931 - £35362 per annum + + 26 Days Leave & Defined Benefit Pension
Domestic Abuse (Perpetrator) Prevention Worker - Multi Disciplinary TeamFixed Term, Full Time£30,931 to £35,362 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Data Analyst - 6 month FTC

Essex County Council
£25081 - £29508 per annum + + 26 Days Leave & Defined Benefit Pension
Data AnalystFixed Term, Full TimeUp to £29,508 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Transport Strategy Manager

North Northamptonshire Council
£55848 - £59442
We are looking for an experienced and talented professional to join North Northamptonshire Council Sheerness House, 41 Meadow Road, Kettering, United Kingdom
Recuriter: North Northamptonshire Council

Specialist Children and Family Worker - 12 month FTC

Essex County Council
£30931 - £35362 per annum + + 26 Days Leave & Defined Benefit Pension
Specialist Children and Family WorkerFixed Term, Full Time£30,931 to £35,362 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Director of Children’s Services

Bedford Borough Council
Up to £136,757 per annum (pay award pending)
Bedford Borough Council is looking for a dynamic and visionary Director of Children's Services Bedford, Bedfordshire
Recuriter: Bedford Borough Council
Linkedin Banner

Partner Content

Circular highways is a necessity not an aspiration – and it’s within our grasp

Shell is helping power the journey towards a circular paving industry with Shell Bitumen LT R, a new product for roads that uses plastics destined for landfill as part of the additives to make the bitumen.

Support from Effective Energy Group for Local Authorities to Deliver £430m Sustainable Warmth Funded Energy Efficiency Projects

Effective Energy Group is now offering its support to the 40 Local Authorities who have received a share of the £430m to deliver their projects on the ground by surveying properties and installing measures.

Pay.UK – the next step in Bacs’ evolution

Dougie Belmore explains how one of the main interfaces between you and Bacs is about to change.