‘Landlords must face consequences’ - Southwark residents left in ‘uninhabitable’ conditions as Awaab’s Law consultation opens

Tenants of Wardroper House in Southwark have been struggling with dangerous damp and mould, leaks and ceiling collapses for years, despite the building only being 13 years old.

Residents say L&Q Homes, the housing association responsible for the building, have ignored their complaints and failed to repair the structural issues that are causing the damp and mould.

Local Liberal Democrat councillor Maria Linforth-Hall has been working with the tenants of Wardroper House to demand L&Q move out vulnerable residents and undertake urgent repairs to the building.

Since the issues were reported in the media, L&Q have begun reaching out to affected residents and attempting to resolve issues in Wardroper House.

Cllr Linforth-Hall has also secured a visit from Southwark Council’s public health team to assess the health risks in the building.

Last week, the government opened consultation on ‘Awaab’s Law’ which could force social housing landlords to fix unsafe homes within 24 hours, following the tragic death of Awaab Ishak in Rochdale due to severe damp and mould.

Residents of Wardroper House say L&Q has shown a “disturbing lack of care and communication” during years of persistent problems and that it was only after the interview with ITV and coverage in Southwark News that they started receiving calls from L&Q, claiming they wanted to help.

Commenting, local councillor Maria Linforth-Hall said:

“I am appalled at the way residents have been treated, and at the conditions in which they have been living since 2019. L&Q has no respect for its tenants. The extensive damp and mould is putting tenants' health at risk. Proper repairs need to be made, and residents at risk must be moved out immediately.

“Southwark Council should make sure that the living conditions of Wardroper House’s tenants are not allowed to continue deteriorating.

“Our campaign has meant L&Q seem to finally be taking notice, but it should not require public embarrassment for L&Q to provide acceptable living standards to its tenants. This is why we need proper consequences for neglectful landlords. Wardroper House is far from being the only case of unacceptable housing conditions in Southwark.”

Highlighting the need for tougher legislation, local councillor, and Liberal Democrat PPC for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, Rachel Bentley, said:

“Too many people are being left in unsafe, unacceptable conditions by their landlords, whether they are councils, housing associations or private landlords.

“Residents like those in Wardroper House should be able to look to their local council for support, but unfortunately Southwark Council lacks the moral authority to challenge others, due to its own appalling performance on disrepair.

“I fully support Awaab’s Law as a start, but we need to ensure it covers private landlords. We also need to see funding to enable the delivery of long-term solutions to damp, mould and disrepair.”