Liberal Democrats Call for Further Action as Council Refers Itself to Social Housing Watchdog in Win for Housing Campaign.

In a win for the Southwark Liberal Democrats’ long running housing campaign, Southwark Council has today announced it will refer itself to the Regulator of Social Housing in relation to its electrical safety tests. The Liberal Democrats have welcomed the move, but say that it is an admission of failure in the housing department, and have renewed calls for a further reaching investigation from the regulator. 

The Southwark Liberal Democrats’ housing campaign first called for the council to make a self-referral to the regulator when the major works scandals came to light last year, leading to the then-acting housing director to admit that he would expect they would be “appalled” at the situation here in Southwark.  

In December the Lib Dems wrote to the regulator inviting it to investigate housing in Southwark, highlighting the poor condition of housing, the number of complaints, and the major works scandals.. 

The suggestion was finally put to a vote in March, but Labour councillors unanimously voted against the measure. 

Commenting, Southwark Liberal Democrat Leader Councillor Victor Chamberlain said:  

“Whilst this is a big win for our housing campaign, it’s a clear admission of failure in Labour’s housing department, and is just a first step towards the full accountability and reform we need. The regulator’s investigations should be much further ranging. From unacceptable damp and mould conditions to its shambolic major works programme, the whole housing department needs to be totally overhauled.”