Croydon Council has launched an urgent inquiry into conditions caused by water leaks at a council high-rise block in the borough.
Led by an independent external housing specialist, the inquiry will look at what has happened at the flats in Regina Road and how. Council tenants who have been trained to take part in the borough’s housing scrutiny process will be asked to be involved, and the council has also self-referred to the Health and Safety Executive and the Regulator of Social Housing.
The council has moved residents out of two flats in Regina Road, South Norwood, while it carries out immediate safety checks and repairs, as well as inspections at every flat in the building. The council will also be undertaking a review of conditions at all 16 of the borough’s similar high-rise housing blocks. The council will also be writing to all its tenants to update them on the inquiry and its progress.
“I am absolutely appalled by the horrific conditions our residents have been living in and we will leave no stone unturned in finding out how and why this has happened. As our first priorities we have rehomed our residents and ordered urgent safety checks and repairs to the flats.
“All our tenants should expect good-quality housing and proper care and it is clear that these standards were unacceptable. That is why we have begun a formal inquiry, and as part of this we will be appointing an independent expert to lead the process. The council will assist them in any way we can, and I promise to our residents that we will do everything we can to make sure that this never happens again.”
Councillor Hamida Ali, leader of the council
