‘After Grenfell, London needs a tenants czar’

A social housing commissioner should be appointed to fight for the rights of tenants in the capital, according to a report launched in response to the Grenfell Tower disaster.

A new survey of tenants by the London Assembly found that many social housing residents feel neglected by their landlords and believe consultations are “box-ticking” exercises.

Assembly members are now calling on Mayor Sadiq Khan to create a social housing commissioner for London to sit on his housing board and promote the views of residents.

The assembly launched its inquiry after the Grenfell fire in June last year, which killed 72 people, raised serious questions about residents’ involvement in decision-making.

It emerged after the disaster that tower residents had been warning the building’s managers, Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO), about fire safety concerns for years.

The Mayor has already appointed Claire Waxman as victims commissioner to ensure that Grenfell survivors play a part in shaping policies and policing.

He has previously proposed a national social housing commissioner.

The report also says landlords should have their performance assessed to “increase transparency” and landlords of affordable homes should be under the same rules as public sector bodies.

It said residents find engagement with landlords “frustrating and problematic”, adding: “Residents from across London spoke of their unhappiness with the large number of parties involved in the management of their social housing estates, which complicates oversight of housing services and leads to a lack of transparency and accountability and hence a loss of trust.”

Almost a quarter of homes in London — more than 800,000 — are social housing.

The Government published a green paper in the summer and a consultation aiming to “rebalance” the relationship between residents and landlords.

The assembly’s report will form part of its response to the consultation.

The head of its housing committee, Sian Berry, said: “The Grenfell disaster is a tragic reminder that residents in social housing have a right to have their voices heard, especially when it comes to concerns they have about where they live.

"It’s imperative we avoid a breakdown between social housing landlords and their tenants.”

James Murray, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development, said Mr Khan has long been clear that the voice of residents in social housing must be heard.

He said the Mayor “has taken decisive action to ensure tenants’ voices are heard, such as by requiring ballots on estate regeneration schemes, but the Government have dragged their feet.”