Southwark Resident Blocked From Own Kitchen for 11 Months

In the latest report from the Housing Ombudsman, which highlights “callous and uncaring” systems relating to disabilities and mental health, Southwark Council has once again been called out for failing one of its tenants.  

This case involves an unnamed woman who was unable to access her kitchen for 11 months due to delays by the council to make suitable adaptations. The housing watchdog, which had enforced housing-related compensation of £89,749 from Southwark last year, slammed the Council for failing to meet the 80-day maximum wait for complex adaptations, and not demonstrating “due regard” for the equalities act.  

In failing to widen the door to her kitchen, the resident was confined to her bedroom and living room, relying on care appointments and private catering arrangements, despite being on a low income.  

This comes only months after the Regulator of Social Housing awarded the council with a “C3 grade” following its inspection, the second worst available indicating “serious failings”.  

Late last year the Labour-run Council hit headlines again as the Liberal Democrats revealed that the average wait in band 3 for a wheelchair adapted council home was 17 years.  

Commenting, Southwark Liberal Democrat Group Leader Cllr Victor Chamberlain said:  

“Once again Southwark is shamefully appearing in one of the Housing Ombudsman’s spotlight reports. It does not take 11 months to simply widen a door – this is Labour once again failing on housing and not listening to residents. Southwark Labour are London’s worst landlord, and as this case shows, it’s disabled residents on low incomes who are the most sorely let down.