Social tenants in Dalston are living with damp, mould and other problems because they can’t get hold of their landlords when they need repairs, Hackney councillors were told last month.
A meeting of the Living in Hackney Scrutiny Commission, an advisory group that brings together the police, probation, council and health professionals, recommended that landlords meet residents in social housing regularly and report data about repair times.
In response, the council has committed to do this for the properties it owns, but said it had “no powers” to make social landlords it rents from do the same.
Rental agreements for social tenants mean it is their responsibility to call their landlord to arrange a repair at their home. These are often difficult and time-consuming to rearrange, according to Dalston ward councillor Zoë Garbett.
Cllr Garbett said: “I’ve got residents crying out for help…they’re fed up with the way they’ve been treated. [They] are having to cancel work because they’re waiting for a repair, then it gets cancelled and it’s on them to phone up again.”
Over 40% of Hackney residents live in social housing, some of which is owned by housing associations who have an agreement – not a legally binding contract – with the council.
Any changes to the agreement have to be approved by the associations, meaning the council can’t force them to respond to residents faster.
During the scrutiny committee meeting, Victoria ward councillor Clare Joseph questioned the usefulness of this agreement if there is “no enforcement” of it.
She said: “We need to push back a little bit on this. It’s not a contract, it’s owned collectively, so how is it monitored and measured, what’s the purpose of it really?”
Flora Symington is the beat reporter for Dalston. She is interested in community-focussed stories with people at their heart, and wants to hear from anyone and everyone in this vibrant area. Before moving to London Flora wrote for the Basingstoke Gazette, Cherwell and Trill Mag, as well as presenting and producing podcasts about media and the arts.