Camden Council breaches consumer standard over fire safety issues

As part of the investigation, Camden Council shared a 2019 internal audit of its approach to fire safety. The RSH said more than 6,000 fire remedial actions were overdue at the time of the audit, and issues relating to the quality and reporting of data had been identified.

“Camden has since improved its ability to report on fire remedial actions, put in place new governance arrangements including a resident fire safety panel, and has completed more than 40,000 actions generated by its current fire risk assessments,” the RSH said in its regulatory notice.

“However, taking into account the outcome of the fire in 2017, the findings of the internal audit in 2019 and the current fire safety position, the evidence demonstrates a long-standing failure by Camden to complete all fire safety remedial actions in a timely manner and to mitigate the risks to tenants in the meantime. As a consequence, tenants have been, and continue to be, exposed to potential harm.”

The regulator said Camden Council had breached the Homes Standard, which had resulted in “actual and potential serious detriment” to its tenants.

Councils must ensure there is at least one smoke alarm on each storey of a property where a room is used as living accommodation; any room containing a fixed combustion appliance must have a carbon monoxide detector as well.

However, Camden Council said more than 9,000 of its properties do not have hard-wired smoke alarms and just under 4,000 do not have carbon monoxide detectors.

Improvement works and engagement

The RSH said Camden Council has implemented a plan to complete overdue fire remedial actions and has systems in place to monitor and report on the progress of its plans.

The council said that it has invested “significantly” in improving the safety of its housing since 2017. It has also completed more than 40,000 fire safety actions since 2020.

Camden has also set out a programme to install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in all properties without them.

An extensive programme of fire safety works will address the regulator’s findings and deliver the “highest standard” of safety for residents as well, the council added. 

The works include ensuring homes have appropriate fire doors, emergency lighting, fire alarms and fire stopping. There will be ongoing gas safety checks in more than 13,000 homes and regular electrical testing in 23,000 homes.

Fire risks will be assessed regularly in more than 3,200 buildings, with high-risk blocks assessed annually. 

The council’s programme also includes testing fire alarms and checking communal areas four times a year in its street properties. Caretakers will conduct regular health and safety inspections on estates.

The council will also work with residents to remove combustible items.

Camden said that following the regulator’s report and advice, it is further boosting its current action by introducing monthly reporting to members of its housing scrutiny committee and fire safety and compliance advisory panel. It will publish the reports on its website and also provide detailed quarterly updates to the panel.

The council said it is also strengthening existing processes so it can address all high-risk actions within the timescales recommended, as well as working to engage with residents and find new ways to improve access to homes.

Georgia Gould, leader of Camden Council, said: “There is nothing more important than the safety of our residents and we are taking this notice very seriously.

“I won’t be content until every action is complete and that’s what our teams are working on delivering right now. We recognise that many of the remaining actions outlined by the regulator are difficult for residents, such as the removal of security grilles. We will be working alongside residents to complete these.

“Our focus has been on meeting the standards required by fire risk assessments. But we also want to get to an even higher standard across the board – a standard of excellent housing that our residents deserve.”

Regular reviews

The RSH said it will work with the council while it addresses the issues that have led to this situation, including monitoring how Camden delivers its programme to complete the outstanding overdue actions.

It will continue to regularly review its use of statutory powers through its engagement with the council, the regulator added.

Kate Dodsworth, chief of regulatory engagement at the RSH, said: “Through our investigation, we found that Camden Council has failed to address thousands of fire safety actions in its tenants’ homes. This is unacceptable and has put tenants at potential risk of harm.

“The council needs to act urgently to put things right and we will scrutinise it closely as it does this.

“Our findings send a clear message to all social landlords that meeting health and safety requirements is of paramount importance. Tenants deserve to live in safe and decent homes, and we will take action when landlords breach our standards.”