Croydon Council was forced to pay out TEN TIMES more in compensation to its tenants last year under Tory Mayor Jason Perry than it had done in the previous 12-month period.
That’s the astonishing findings of the official, annual report on Croydon’s performance as landlords from the Housing Ombudsman.
Croydon Council paid out more than £18,000 to tenants in compensation during 2023-2024.
Croydon also had a maladministration rate of 81%, compared to 67% for the previous year and, when measuring severe maladministration, Croydon Council performed worse than other landlords of a similar size and type.
Croydon made national headlines three years ago when the appalling, “slum-like” conditions endured by council tenants living on the Regina Road estate were exposed by reports on national television, with leaks and black mould throughout several homes.
Performance under Mayor Perry: the stats stack up badly under Croydon’s Conservative Mayor
An independent report highlighted poor management and staffing issues at the council putting the health of people in Regina Road at risk. Work has begun to demolish the three tower blocks and other nearby council-owned properties, since the condition of the council flats was determined to be beyond repair.
The Regina Road scandal led to the creation of Croydon’s Housing Improvement Board, which now meets every other month to provide evidenced, fair and honest feedback to the council’s cabinet, examining how the council is delivering its programme of housing improvement works to meet targets set by the independent report.
But the Housing Ombudsman’s report suggests that there remains much more improvement to be made.
Reporting problems: Cllr Claire Bonham
“There are clear signs that Croydon Council is still failing tenants and there is room for much improvement,” said Claire Bonham, the Liberal Democrat councillor for Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood.
“I know from my own casework that tenants still struggle to get timely and consistent responses from the council and that getting repairs done is a struggle.
“In one case recently, an ‘urgent’ enquiry that I raised via the Members’ Enquiry system went ‘missing’ and was only dealt with when I escalated the issue.
“Cases being referred to the Ombudsman and requiring compensation should be a rare occurrence.
“The Tory Mayor should apologise to tenants for this poorly performing service.”
The significant public document from the Housing Ombudsman has not been publicised by Croydon Council’s propaganda department nor published on the council’s website.
Read more: Complacent council managers miss important housing event
Read more: Investigation finds systemic failure and incompetence in council
Read more: Croydon shamed over ‘dangerous squalor’ in council flats
Read more: Perry’s council threatens legal action against homeless charity
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ROTTEN BOROUGH AWARDS: In January 2024, Croydon was named among the country’s rottenest boroughs for a SEVENTH successive year in the annual round-up of civic cock-ups in Private Eye magazine
Perry wasn’t bold enough. He must know Kerswell isn’t competent enough to transform Croydon and he could have reduced the number of executives and senior staff in favour of frontline staff. Instead he’s tinkered with things – getting rid of SPD2 but not dealing with Nicola Townsend or Heather Cheesbrough. He could initiated a performance and conduct investigation into the latter (he still could), moved her on, and signalled a break wit the past. Instead we see the same old, same old. Housing, children’s services, refuse collection, planning – nothing has changed.
The next Mayor has to be able to make difficult decisions for the sake of Croydon.