Croydon council has breached housing standards at “uninhabitable and unsafe” flats in Regina Road

By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter

Council flats in South Norwood were “uninhabitable and unsafe” according to the Regulator of Social Housing.

The body published a damning assessment of Croydon council today concluding that the authority had breached housing standards regulations.

The regulator investigated the council after horrendous conditions at a block in Regina Road were exposed in the media, the council also self-referred to the body.

The report is the latest in the torrid saga which this week saw one of the tenants affected slam the council for not caring about residents.

An independent investigation released on May 7 showed that residents of Regina Road had been complaining to the council for four years and the authority’s failure to act put the health and safety of tenants at risk.

The regulator said: “Taking into account the issues present at the LB Croydon tower block, and the wider evidence about how LB Croydon has managed its housing stock and engaged with tenants, the regulator has concluded that LB Croydon has breached the Home Standard and the Tenant Involvement and Empowerment Standard.

“The evidence shows that some tenants’ homes were uninhabitable and apparently unsafe, and the evidence demonstrates that other tenants may also have been at risk of serious harm as a result of the conditions in their home. As a result, there was actual, and the potential for serious detriment to tenants.”

Croydon Council says it is currently working to sort out the problems in the housing department and the regulator is set to keep the council under review and could even take further action if necessary.

Last week the council announced it had appointed a new temporary director of housing at a cost of £104,250 for six months.

Dr Alison Knight is taking up the role as the council deals with the fallout from shocking living conditions exposed in South Norwood.

The cash for the job comes from the council’s Housing Revenue Account.

Council leader Hamida Ali said: “We are determined to improve everything about the service we give to our council residents, and this appointment underlines we are serious about raising Croydon’s housing standards, and at pace.”

The regulator says it will work with Croydon as it seeks to remedy the breach and will continue to consider what further action may need to be taken.