11:20, 14 January 2021
Words by Smiley Team, Staff Writer, London
Among those worst hit by the pandemic, renters have little to celebrate these days. But a recent victory for South London tenants may offer some hope to others. Thanks to months of campaign work by the London Renters Union (LRU), residents of 96 flats at Dorchester Court in Herne Hill, have won council support to improve their dire rental situation.
The campaign started after LRU members complained about consecutive winters of heating and hot water failures, rodent infestations and unfixed damage to the buildings they are renting.
In October 2020, Dorchester Court had to be evacuated and one person was hospitalised due to a carbon monoxide leak in a temporary boiler.
One LRU member and resident at Dorchester Court, Lily, said: “My room thermometer was showing nine degrees in my flat during the cold spell at the start of January. After emailing Property Partners to tell them this, I received a response stating that this is an adequate level of heating. Sitting in bed because I was too cold to move around and reading this response felt awful.”
She added: “I pay a lot of rent every month, and UK law says landlords have a duty to keep their properties safe, secure and warm.”
Thankfully, Lambeth Council has announced that it will serve an improvement notice to force their multimillionaire landlord to make vital repairs. Under sections 11 and 12 of the Housing Act 2004, this gives the landlord a set time frame to resolve all issues and hazards faced by their tenants.
Lily said: “I’m glad the council has recognised that what’s been happening at Dorchester Court is unacceptable. How can we be sitting here during a global pandemic without working heating or hot water while our landlord is on the Sunday Times Rich List and the managing agency tells us nine degrees indoors is an acceptable temperature?”
Until the landlord has resolved the issues, the LRU will be keeping a close watch on the progress of the improvement notice.
Ruby, a union spokesperson, said: “Lambeth council needs to make sure it fulfils its duty to residents of Dorchester Court. A thorough list of remedial action must be drawn up: this is not a one-off heating failure but a case of years of neglect.”
If you are a renter facing issues in your home, joining the LRU is one way to find a solution. You can become a member by filling out a form on their website.
To support the organisation to run training sessions, events, campaigns and street stalls that will help transform the housing system, visit their donation page.
