It’s Official!
The government website announced today (16/10/24), that Newham Housing is not only the worst in the country, but the worst in history!
We reported that Newham were to be the first authority in the country to be awarded the grade C4. That of a failing authority.
In rather judicious language, the inspectors delivered a damning conclusion.
The Standard gave a helpful synopsis of the problems.
Over 9,000 overdue fire safety actions, of which over 8,000 were overdue by more than a year and over 4,000 categorised as “high risk”
At least 20 percent of homes do not meet the requirements of the Decent Homes Standard
Four in 10 homes had not had an electrical condition test for over a decade
A lack of evidence that the borough meeting smoke and carbon monoxide alarm requirements for any of its 16,000 homes
A lack of accurate information on stock quality, with 60 percent of properties without a survey within the last five years.
Around 5,400 open repairs, nearly half of which were overdue
Tenant Satisfaction Measure surveys not completed on time
Very limited opportunities for tenants to influence and scrutinise the landlord’s policies and services.
Still, every cloud has a silver lining. We reported that Director of Housing, Darren Levy had not been seen at his desk since the inspection. It’s good to know that his total failure to manage the department has not affected his career prospects.
Brighton and Hove Council have announced the appointment of an Interim Housing Director in less than 10 days since the inspectors left Newham! (It appears that he had been planning this for some time.)
It would be interesting to see what amount of money Newham paid to the disappearing director, in terms of notice, pension payments etc. We would not be surprised to learn that Levy received emoluments to the value of several tens of thousands of pounds to leave Newham. Then, less than two weeks later he walks into another well-paid position. Brighton and Hove show the starting salary for this post to be £129,213, plus of course, substantial pension contributions.
Newham haven’t been as quick off the mark as Brighton and Hove and the director’s post is still vacant, as is, we understand the post of the deputy director.
Maybe one of our councillors would like to enquire whether and how much Mr Levy received from Newham in order to clear off.
The Newham decision has been reported widely:
Inside Housing give a detailed critique of Newham’s position, noting thousands of fire safety and electrical checks whish had not been done for over a decade. Newham could have mitigated their position by self-referring, but they didn’t. Housing Today also carry an article.
Kate Dodsworth, chief of regulatory engagement at the RSH, said: “The breadth and scale of these failings, including very serious health and safety issues, pose an unacceptable risk to tenants’ well-being.”
Chief Exec, Abi Gbago, is quoted, “we have let our tenants down”. Never a truer word. She doesn’t say where the estimated £20m-£25m to fix the problem is coming from.
Quite how she is going to fix the problem is not mentioned either. The inspectors were not impressed at the prospects. “We have not yet seen evidence to sufficiently assure us of its (Newham’s) ability to put matters right.”
The difference between what they say and what they do is nowhere more evident than in the response of Cllr Shaban Mohammed. “Keeping our tenants safe is our priority”. Those are his words quoted in the article.
We feel the need to offer the same guidance that you would do to a five-year old. Talking about it is not the same as doing it. You didn’t do it Cllr Mohammed.
If keeping tenants safe was your priority, you would have ensured that tenants were safe. You didn’t. You failed and you put the lives of tenants at risk.
From the gov.uk report.
You failed and you put the lives of tenants at risk. (Why are you still in post?)