|
|
 |
| |
Living in ‘social housing’ turmoil
• WE represent a council block of approximately 130 flats that was refurbished in 2005 under Camden’s Raising The Standard scheme.
This was 10 years overdue, so the building was in an appalling state of repair. Sadly, 18 months following completion, the residents in general are far from happy with the standard of the work, and the incompetence of the council personnel involved.
Residents regularly pointed out flaws with the works prior to their fitting, yet were ignored, only for the works to be redone later when residents’ concerns were proved right. The general attitude of the council’s capital works team was that we should be grateful the work was being carried out at all.
Residents had been paying among Camden’s highest rents for years to live in a rundown building. This refurbishment was owed to us, especially to the leaseholders, who were told to pay five-figure sums towards the cost.
Since the main contractors left the site in January 2006, there have been issues with the electrical and mechanical systems that were replaced.
Examples of this include: the new communal door entry system has failed on a number of occasions; the brand-new lifts break down regularly; our fire alarm system, which is not monitored by the LFCDA, is completely unreliable to the point where residents now ignore it when it sounds; the ventilation ducts on at least one floor are blocked; gas flues from boilers are incorrectly sized, extinguishing pilot lights. In addition, the roof in one entrance hall leaks.
Although the contractors were at first willing to deal with snagging issues, the capital works team failed to arrange for these loose ends to be tied. The contractors are now refusing to attend, yet Camden’s repairs department will not accept responsibility as they have never received a handover. Residents and caretaking staff are left in the middle while council departments play office politics.
Our leaseholders have taken the council to court to recoup the ridiculous amounts of money they are being forced to pay for the poor standard of work received.
The frustrating conclusion is that all issues could have been resolved by now if only the capital works team had carried out their jobs correctly and ensured that all problems were dealt with.
It appears they view themselves as greater than the positions they are paid to perform, with one member telling residents that our building was “after all, only social housing”.
DAVID HULSE
Secretary, Grafton Way Tenants and Residents’ Association, WC1
|
 |
|
| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
