Council formally takes back 19,000 homes from housing company

A council has formally taken back 19,000 homes under its control following a transfer of staff and services from a housing company.

Yesterday, Lewisham council committed to take over responsibility for managing and maintaining homes across the borough, following the transfer from Lewisham Homes, which had been managing homes on behalf of the council.

Services like repairs and grounds maintenance are now the responsibility of the council.

A spokesman for the council said: “There will not be any changes to tenants’ and leaseholders’ rights, and rent levels and service charges will continue to be reviewed annually.”

The spokesman said that Lewisham Homes’ email addresses “will still work” and will be redirected to new council addresses. 

Similarly, Lewisham Homes’ social media channels will remain active, under the name Lewisham Council Housing Services.

But the council said staff uniforms and signage will be changed to council branding when they need replacing to “minimise costs and reduce waste”.  

The move follows a survey of residents, in which 71 per cent of respondents said they supported the proposal, six per cent disagreed and 23 per cent said they didn’t know. 

At a council housing meeting in November 2022, Sarah Willcox-Jones, director of repairs at Lewisham Homes, admitted the company did not know how many severe repairs were outstanding.

She was also unable to tell councillors how much of the company’s £1million repairs budget was being spent on legal costs dealing with claims for compensation for problems like mould and damp.

Mayor of Lewisham Damien Egan said: “We’re looking forward to working with tenants, leaseholders, our TRAs and staff to improve services and provide high-quality homes for local people.

“We know we face big challenges ahead. Social housing across London and the rest of the country is facing a funding crisis. 

“However, we have a brilliant and very experienced new senior team at the council.

“We’re committed to involving residents in our improvement plans and increasing transparency, and we’ll be letting residents know how they can get involved and share their views over the coming months.”

A spokesman for the council said: “Information about repairs, contact details and other housing issues can be found on the council’s website – lewisham.gov.uk.”

Pictured top: A CGI of the development in New Cross Road (Picture: Lewisham council)