Tandridge Council has reported itself to Regulator of Social Housing after it failed to carry out mandatory electrical safety tests on its council homes.
The district council, based in Oxted and covering Caterham, Godstone, Lingfield and Warlingham, announced its decision to submit the report yesterday.
“Following a reorganisation and as part of an ongoing review of the housing service, it became clear a mandatory electrical safety test of each home had not been correctly implemented,” the council statement admitted.
“Once this was discovered, the council started a major programme to complete the required tests, which are known as Electrical Installation Condition Reports. The council will be writing to council tenants to explain what happens next and when their property will be tested.”
And the announcement included a safety warning to council tenants. “While this work is underway, tenants should continue to take the usual care when using electrical appliances and devices in their homes…
“This work is part of a range of actions being taken to improve the 2,600 council homes. This has also included setting up a new Residents Forum, a damp and mould prevention service and procurement of various repairs and maintenance contracts.
“While there is still some way to go, progress is being made in areas such as repairs, resident engagement and management of anti-social behaviour,” Tandridge Council said.
Politically, Tandridge Council has been under “no overall control” since 2021, with independents and residents’ associations forming a minority administration and Catherine Sayer, of the Oxted and Limpsfield Residents Group, as council leader.
Jeremy Pursehouse, the chair of Tandridge’s housing committee, said: “In line with best practice and for transparency we are making this self-referral to and working with the Regulator of Social Housing, as the independent organisation responsible for driving improvements in social housing through robust regulation.
“We take residents’ safety extremely seriously and are determined to keep raising the quality of our council homes. While we have made real progress we still have more work to do. This includes completing these important electrical tests. We are sorry for the delay in carrying out these tests, but tenants can be reassured this work is underway.”
Tandridge council tenants who have concerns about electrical safety in their homes can call 01737 355776 or email tandridge@nrtgroup.co.uk to seek advice and where necessary, book an appointment.
- The Garwood Foundation is Inside Croydon’s nominated charity for 2024.
- To find out more about their vitally important work, click here
- To donate, click here
- If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, or want to publicise your residents’ association or business, or if you have a local event to promote, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com
As featured on Google News Showcase
- Our comments section on every report provides all readers with an immediate “right of reply” on all our content. Our comments policy can be read by clicking here
Inside Croydon is a member of the Independent Community News Network
- Inside Croydon works together with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, as well as BBC London News and ITV London
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
