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Grenfell neighbours hit out over rehousing proposals
Evacuated neighbours of Grenfell Tower have hit out at council proposals to treat them differently to those on the general waiting list as they await rehousing.
Many households from low-rise blocks known as the Walkways, which are located next to the tower, have been living in temporary accommodation since the tragic blaze in June.
They are awaiting rehousing along with survivors of the fire, but Kensington and Chelsea Council is currently consulting on a proposal which would only allow them two offers of housing, compared to the three options for people bidding through the common housing register.
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They were evacuated because the boiler serving their homes was destroyed in the fire.
Joe Delaney, an evacuee who is representing residents of the walk on the council’s scrutiny panel, said: “I think the proposal on rehousing evacuees from the Walkways by the council is a load of crap. Only two rehousing offers… demonstrates a lack of compassion about this situation. I will be fighting this tooth and nail.”
Under the proposals, residents evacuated from the Walkways would receive 900 points for rehousing as opposed to the 100 points typically awarded to single people with a local connection on the list, ensuring the evacuees enter at the top.
Of the 364 households from the Walkways, 123 have been evacuated – with 95 in hotel rooms, 14 in serviced apartments and 14 in temporary accommodation, according to the council.
A council spokesperson said: “We’re spending millions of pounds on refurbishing the Lancaster West Estate so that a third of residents from the Walkways who are living in hotels can move back to their homes for Christmas.
“We hope that people will want to return to their homes so they can begin rebuilding their lives, though we recognise that this will not be the case for some who may not feel able to. This is why we’re consulting on giving them priority status and two housing offers to receive another home.
“If these offers are unreasonably refused then the council may consider their priority for rehousing.”
Never Again campaign
Inside Housing has launched a campaign to improve fire safety following the Grenfell Tower fire
Never Again: campaign asks
Inside Housing is calling for immediate action to implement the learning from the Lakanal House fire, and a commitment to act – without delay – on learning from the Grenfell Tower tragedy as it becomes available.
LANDLORDS
- Take immediate action to check cladding and external panels on tower blocks and take prompt, appropriate action to remedy any problems
- Update risk assessments using an appropriate, qualified expert.
- Commit to renewing assessments annually and after major repair or cladding work is carried out
- Review and update evacuation policies and ‘stay put’ advice in light of risk assessments, and communicate clearly to residents
GOVERNMENT
- Provide urgent advice on the installation and upkeep of external insulation
- Update and clarify building regulations immediately – with a commitment to update if additional learning emerges at a later date from the Grenfell inquiry
- Fund the retrofitting of sprinkler systems in all tower blocks across the UK (except where there are specific structural reasons not to do so)
We will submit evidence from our research to the Grenfell public inquiry.
The inquiry should look at why opportunities to implement learning that could have prevented the fire were missed, in order to ensure similar opportunities are acted on in the future.
