I’ll be posting a podcast on this soon, but here’s the story for now:
A source tells me that Newham council is moving people who are in temporary housing into much worse temporary housing – to save money. Some families have children and disabled family members.
The plan is to move tens and even hundreds of people into cheaper housing this way.
The council is not polite as it goes about this. People say things start with a call from a random mobile number. They’re told by council officers that they must move to the cheaper places immediately or the council will make them homeless. Some officers tell people that they have to move because their landlord wants them to go – but their landlord says it is fine for them to stay.
Very poor conditions
The cheaper housing is chosen by the council. People have told me that the housing is often in very bad condition. Families with children have no hot water and broken boilers. Some of the places have no furniture, washing machines or fridges. Other places are dirty.
Needless to say, these families are struggling for housing and money. Some have disabled children. They are not in a position to fight back.
Newham council no longer pre-checks temporary housing
I’ve seen a recent council report which says that Newham council no longer checks properties to see what condition they are in before people move in.
The document says that the council “should” contact people who are forced to move a day or so after the move to check that things are okay. The tenants I have spoken to say that this has not happened. They’ve had to chase the council about problems themselves.
This is a very big problem across London.
Special measures and a shadow team
I’ve been asking the council – including senior officers – about all of these problems for a week, with no response. I’ve posted the questions below.
One question is whether the council has been threatened with special measures. Special measures means an external person, or group of people, manage the council, often because the council is struggling financially.
The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government has already given Newham council a best value notice. This means the ministry has concerns about the way Newham council is run and that the council must work with the ministry to improve. The MHCLG is concerned about the council’s financial sustainability, governance and management of social housing.
As usual, it’s the people who most need council help with housing who are being made to pay the price for government and council decisions.
More soon.
These are the (so far unanswered) questions I’ve put to the council several times since last Thursday:
I’ve had sight of a document called “Temporary accommodation – review of pre-inspection work practice.”
This document says that the council is abandoning universal pre-inspections of temporary housing properties.
It also says a parallel (shadow) delivery team has been set up to oversee this system. I understand there is also a system where people in temp housing are being moved to cheaper properties.
I also understand that the council might be facing special measures.
Questions:
1) tenants already in temporary housing have raised concerns about being suddenly told to move into vastly inferior, cheaper properties which have not been inspected – and threatened with intentional homelessness if they do not go. Why is the council moving people in this way?
2) has the government indicated to the council that Newham will be put into special measures because of its housing and finance problems and/or for any other reason?
3) how does the council verify that non-inspected properties have up to date gas safety, electrical and fire certification? What is the “desktop verification” mentioned in the document discussed above? How reliable is it?
4) A recent social housing regulator report showed that Newham has a poor record in managing documentation and assessments, certainly in social housing. Is the council in a position and staffed to ensure thousands of non-inspected private and/or social temporary homes are checked at some point or if landlords are new providers? Has it increased the number of compliance officers since the new policy came to pass and if so, by how many?
5) The temporary accommodation inspection document says that the council “should” introduce a practice where all tenants who are placed in non-inspected properties are contacted in 24 hours so that they can raise any concerns. I’ve heard from residents who say they’ve emailed the council asking for suitability reviews and not heard back. Does the council believe it is contacting all tenants in 24 hours?
6) the report says that mandatory inspection “should” be retained for new providers, providers with compliance concerns and properties flagged via complaints or intelligence. Is this taking place?
I have just read your article and we are in the same situation, random phone call then a week got an email to say we have less than 24hr to move and accept the property, from. One temporary housing agent to another one my guess trying to cut cost other wise why move us and we are a family of special. Need, after exhausting all all solicitors advise we were told we have no choice but to move and then appeal the suitability which is whst wear now.. We are moving tommorw and I need to find a way on how to appeal so we dnt get moved again. Solicitors say thst we have no rights under the mental health act as we are in temporary accommodation, even though one of the conditions of us being in this current place was not to be movedbut they still did it.
Hi Kate I am also currently experiencing this matter. I have been in interim accommodation for 18 months, with my 3 children in a 2 bedroom flat. Myself and my son is disabled. We have access to a garage and loft which we use for my sons disability related equipment and to store essential everyday items as we don’t have much space. They have suddenly tried to whisk us away to a smaller property on extremely short notice. Offering up the same property before speaking to me. After me doing a suitability assesment and providing medical evidence but it went unnoticed, they offered me the same property. Then again I noticed a mistake , they had served me with a section 188 which left me with no right to appeal. Luckily I remembered I had an email to say the council had accepted a main housing duty towards me in June 2023 so I put this to them to which they apologized changed the section to 198 then proceeded to offer me the same property. I’ve had no pictures, no information except for an address and no layout or measurements despite me addressing that my basic living necessary items wouldn’t fit (including a freezer) let alone the huge risk it would pose to my disabled’s son quality of life. They currently keep fobbing me off with deadlines and misinformation aswell extremely short notice to move an entire contents of my property, garage and loft with 3 children 1 disabled including being disabled myself in 36° heat
As a struggling mum with two girls,I totally agree,Newham council agents are very rude and misbehave and threat on phone ,they call suddenly and says you have to move out within 48hours over the phone within two minutes which property you have to choose otherwise you won’t be supported and the current landlors wants you out of the property,the property they recently moved me into is in disgusting state,toilet kitchen is dirty full of grease,there was mouse droppings everywhere,cold wind comes from the windows I cant afford energy bills and every day I am scared that how I will pay or survive in winters,there is no communication,I am struggling to pay for water bill £665 yearly paymemt I have to pay,water pressure in bath is too low that I cant even describe,huge drain issues,sometimes dirty water comes out of the kitchen sink or toilet,massive noise or trains every 15 minutes making my mental health worse,night time people take drugs outside my home ,hugs bins full of rubbish is outside my front door attracting rodents and flies,issues goes on I don’t know how I will survive.
This is my 3rd temporary house with in 3 years and yes they do phone randomly and ask us to leave within 48 hours maximum. I have 3 kids and I’m a single mum with a 2 year old they expected me to move out with in 48 hours
So it’s never for a good reason for them to move us out like animals
Unfortunately, I was one of the residents affected by this process.
I was told that I had only three days to move. This happened while my son was preparing for his GCSE exams and was already under significant pressure and stress. At the same time, I was involved in the All Nations Volleyball Tournament, which made the situation even more difficult for my family.
At the time, we were living in a newly built, fully furnished apartment in Gallions Reach. The first property offered to us was in Manor Park. In my opinion, the condition of that property was completely unacceptable and I refused the offer.
After speaking with my support worker, Mariel, a different property was offered in Plaistow. However, I was informed that if I did not accept the offer, my homelessness case could be closed. The property was unfurnished and contained significant mould and a strong damp smell. I reported all of these issues to the council by email.
When I raised concerns about the condition of the property and requested a Suitability Assessment and a Section 202 Review, I was told by a council officer that I should move into the property first and then pursue those requests after the move had taken place. As a result, I felt that I had very little choice but to relocate despite my concerns about the property’s condition and suitability for my family.
To be fair, some of the problems were addressed. For example, a heavily mould-contaminated fridge was replaced, some mould treatment work was carried out, and the cooker was replaced. However, the property still has a noticeable damp smell. My family is currently sleeping on the floor because the property was provided unfurnished. We were given two inflatable air mattresses, but they are not suitable for long-term use.
I requested both a Suitability Assessment and a Section 202 Review. To date, I have not received the information or reports I requested.
This move has also had a serious impact on my partner’s mental health. She is currently receiving treatment through the NHS for depression and anxiety, and since this process began she has been extremely distressed and often in tears.
In addition, the move has cost me approximately £1,000, which I had to borrow from a friend.
All of my communications with the council have been conducted by email and are documented. If my experience can help others understand what is happening or assist with any investigation into these issues, I would be willing to help.