Landmark legal bid puts hostel providers at risk

The Great Commission Ministry, a Christian group whose church’s roof was destroyed in a fire started in a homeless hostel, has lodged a writ with the High Court. It accuses housing association Carr Gomm of negligence.

The fire at the Shepherd’s Bush hostel in 2008 was started by a resident in her bedroom. It took around 75 fire fighters to extinguish the blaze, during which no one was hurt.

The Shepherd’s Bush Tabernacle, which stands opposite the hostel, was badly damaged leaving the church group with no building. GCM claims that Carr Gomm let bedrooms in the hostel to people with a history of substance abuse and mental health issues which helped contribute to the cause of the fire. It wants £1 million to pay for the damage to the church.

The church accuses Carr Gomm, which has since become part of Sanctuary Housing Group, of failing to secure the alarm system which meant a resident could turn off the fire alarm when it sounded. Sanctuary declined to comment.

Karen Cooksley, a lawyer at Winckworth Sherwood, said that if the challenge is successful, it could increase costs for hostel providers. ‘It might take more time to get things through planning inspections because regulating authorities will be more cautious knowing that these things happen,’ she said. ‘And the charities which provide accommodation will be put to more expense [to secure fire alarms and have more staff available].’

Helen Tucker, partner at Anthony Collins, said that funding cuts might mean hostels have to house increasingly vulnerable people, who are more prone to destructive behaviour: ‘There would be an obvious concern that with significant funding cuts there would be vulnerable people housed without the level of supervisional care that they need.’

Hostel resident Jennifer Morrow, 36, pleaded guilty to arson in July 2008 and was sentenced to a two-year supervision order and alcohol treatment programme. She was remanded in custody for 159 days.