The ‘slum-like’ conditions of ‘dangerous squalor’ in council flats on Regina Road caused a national scandal in 2021. Only now, and £30m of spending later, is the housing regulator satisfied that council housing in the borough meets proper standards. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES
Demolition work: four years after the shocking reports on ITV News, the Regina Road tower blocks are coming down
In what the council’s housing chief calls “a milestone”, Croydon’s social housing provision has been taken out of special measures, four years after the Regina Road scandal that shocked the nation.
In an internal memo distributed to council staff, Susmita Sen, Croydon’s “corporate director of housing”, said: “I am really pleased to announce that the council has received confirmation that the regulatory notice placed on housing services for breaches of the Regulator’s Consumer Standards in 2021 has been removed.
“This is a big milestone for Croydon and shows how far we have come in our housing improvement journey.”
Croydon’s three residential blocks of council flats on Regina Road, in South Norwood, made national headlines four years ago, when ITV News showed the appalling conditions in the homes, with mould down the walls and water running through ceilings, making the properties dangerous and uninhabitable.
The “slum-like conditions” were described as “dangerous squalor” in the television news report.
The televised scandal led to further revelations about the poor state of many council homes throughout the borough, leading to the sacking of the council’s maintenance contractors and the introduction of a new system of reporting and monitoring complaints.
Work has begun this year to demolish the tower blocks at Regina Road, which were deemed to be beyond repair, and thanks to a £54million grant from the Mayor of London’s housing fund, replace the flats with 225 council homes, plus 155 homes for private sale.
‘Milestone’: Susmita Sen praised the hard work of housing staff
In Sen’s statement to staff, she says: “Staff in the housing directorate have put in a huge amount of hard work to improve services, adapt to change and keep up with increasing levels of demand. I am incredibly grateful for everything that they have done.”
Since the council referred itself to the housing regulator – given the TV images seen by millions around the world, Croydon really had no alternative course of action, Sen says “… the housing directorate has worked closely with the regulator”.
Sen says: “After reviewing the evidence we provided in the New Year, the regulator confirmed that the issues identified in the notice have been addressed. They will remove the notice from their website on Wednesday 30 April…
“Removal of the notice follows significant and tangible improvements to how the housing directorate is delivering services, with over £30million invested to improve standards of our housing across Croydon. These include upgrades to kitchens, bathrooms, lifts and boilers. We’ve also improved repairs services and provided training to staff in areas like damp and mould awareness, fire safety and customer care.
“A key factor in this programme has been the Housing Improvement Board, which was set up in December 2021 and has played a crucial role in guiding these changes. Moving forward, we are reviewing how to create a structure that can be integrated into the governance of the council, which will continue to make sure we stay accountable and keep improving housing services.
“Listening to our residents and ensuring that they are in a position to influence decision-making has been vital. Their input has shaped the improvements we have made, and we will continue working with them to ensure we keep meeting their needs.
“Lifting the regulatory notice is a key milestone, but it is just one step in the journey. We have made great progress, but there is still much more to do. Thanks again to everyone who has helped get us this far – and here’s to the next steps on providing quality homes and services for our residents.”
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I am a longstanding council tenant and over two decades have been relocated three times I along with many experienced the stigmatisation by Council Managers and staff of old. I also have been a member of the Tenants’ Board since inception in 2021. I welcome the achievement as reported and emphasis that has only been achieved by the current Housing Directors, Officers and Staff by putting people first. This isn’t the end but the beginning of even more improvement. It’s a pity that other Directors with different portfolios do not follow the same path.
This positive reporting by IC on the council underlines the foolishness of barring access to the publication at the Town Hall,
Pity Heathfield Gardens residents are still living with leaking sewage, mould , blocked gutters and drains causing damp walls ….