London council in breach of consumer standards due to 9,000 overdue fire safety actions 

Following the the RSH’s investigation, Camden said it is introducing monthly reporting to members of the Housing Scrutiny Committee, and its Fire Safety and Compliance Advisory Panel.

Alongside the additional reporting, it will look at strengthening existing processes so it can address all high-risk actions within recommended timescales and work to engage residents and find new ways to improve access to their homes.

The council explained that it is finding it difficult to access up to 40% of homes to complete works under its smoke detector programme.

Kate Dodsworth, chief of regulatory engagement at the RSH, said: “Through our investigation, we found that Camden Council has failed to address thousands of fire safety actions in its tenants’ homes. This is unacceptable and has put tenants at potential risk of harm. The council needs to act urgently to put things right, and we will scrutinise it closely as it does this. 

“Our findings send a clear message to all social landlords that meeting health and safety requirements is of paramount importance. Tenants deserve to live in safe and decent homes, and we will take action when landlords breach our standards.”

Georgia Gould, leader of Camden Council, said: “There is nothing more important than the safety of our residents and we are taking this notice very seriously. Six years ago, I said fire safety was our first priority and that we would invest in a new era of resident safety. 

“We are investing more than £200m in a wide range of safety improvements; we’ve published all fire risk assessments (FRAs) and carried out more than 40,000 individual safety improvements and repairs.

“But we know that there is still more work to be done to complete all remaining higher-risk actions, along with all other lower-risk actions. A programme of work is in place for delivery this year and next.

“I won’t be content until every action is complete and that’s what our teams are working on. We recognise that many of the remaining actions outlined by the regulator are difficult for residents, such as the removal of security grilles. We will be working alongside residents to complete these.

“Our focus has been on meeting the standards required by FRAs, but we also want to get to an even higher standard across the board, a standard of excellent housing that our residents deserve.”

Ms Gould said the council needs help from the government to address years of underinvestment in council housing, but also promised that the council will act faster within its already stretched resources in future.