Tenant groups are horrified and scared after the devastating fire at Grenfell Tower in west London last night. The fire has killed and injured many, and is devastating the lives of hundreds.
In sorrow we send our sympathy and offers of practical support. And in anger we demand an end to the murderous disregard and contempt for tenants, by the landlord in Kensington: see Grenfell Action Group warning.
Across the country other landlords are ignoring safety warnings from tenants and others - Fire safety report on 4,000 blocks ignored. Government cuts funding for major repairs and maintenance, promotes demolition and describes our homes, estates and communities as 'brownfield sites'.
This is the context of the disastrous failure to act on tenants' warnings.
Across the country landlords ignore tenants' warnings, in order to cut costs or avoid works.
We need a full, immediate safety enquiry into Grenfell and every other block. We need full funding for any improvements including sprinkler systems, recommended by fire services. And we need to listen to tenants views on redevelopment and warnings about the risks to homes and lives.
14 June 2017
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Tenant reps and campaigners are invited to this organising meeting to step up pressure for Government action on housing.
Bringing together council and housing association tenants, private renters, trade unions and campaigners.
For action on fire safety and security, rent controls, secure homes for all, and repeal the Housing and Planning Act.
September 9th 2017 11am at:
Blemundsbury Tenants Hall, Dombey St London WC1N 3PF
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15 Aug 2017
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The Grenfell Inquiry is consulting on what issues it should look at. They say: 'The Inquiry will need to examine all relevant circumstances leading up to and
surrounding the fire at Grenfell Tower, its spread to the whole of the building,
and its effect on residents'.
Defend Council Housing has sent a submission, saying 'We strongly submit that national and local government policies relating to the funding, management, maintenance and supervision of council housing in England, is a central issue which must be addressed by the Inquiry, if it is to make a meaningful contribution to avoiding further disasters.'
We are that 'to change the context in which the Grenfell Fire happened, the government should:
" Fully fund all fire safety reviews and implementation of recommendations
" Cancel the inflated and fictitious debt loaded onto council tenants via the HRA
" Fund the backlog of major repairs to achieve decent safe home standards in all council homes.'
The former leader of Kensington and Chelsea council has said Grenfell tenants were offered a choice, of a sprinkler system or modernised kitchens and bathrooms. This is an example of the unacceptable choices presented to council tenants and leaseholders, and described as consultation, over three decades.
Read the full submission from DCH to the Grenfell Inquiry here.
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02 Aug 2017
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About 150 residents from three tower blocks on Ranwell West estate in Tower Hamlets met to discuss safety after the dreadful deaths in the Grenfell fire. The meeting voted to demand smoke alarms, new fire doors and sprinklers, as well as insisting on access to the fire safety assessment in progress following Grenfell.
But the discussion also raised other issues including the potential chimney effects through the old rubbish chutes and warm air heating systems as well as problems with rubbish collection and waste disposal points round the blocks being used for fly tipping. Slow response times when problems are reported are part of everyones experience on the estate.
The Housing director for the Clarion group, the housing association which now runs the estate, promised to look into all the issues raised but seemed to have no answers other than what the residents could do themselves to keep communal areas clear of rubbish. She did pledge to implement any of the recommendations from the enquiry into the Grenfell fire.
Pellings, the contractors responsible for overseeing the current refurbishment works, were not able to say anything about the fire safety status of the new cladding being put on the roofs of the blocks.
Everyone is aware of the consequences of the bonfire of regulations, the effects of privatisation and the taking away of any accountability to residents, and how that led to Grenfell. Housing has become about making profits not providing safe homes for working class people.
The meeting was also supported by local mayor, John Biggs and the two local councillors, who said they would support the residents.
But the residents at the meeting are determined to get organised and take back control. Over 30 people left details for a contact group and residents agreed to meet again to hold Clarion, the new landlord to account.
Sheila McGregor 30th June
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03 Jul 2017
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Anger is mounting at the injustice to the dead and the survivors of Grenfell, and the fire risk for
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30 Jun 2017
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Following the terrible Grenfell fire, tenants everywhere are fearful.
Everyone living in high-r
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19 Jun 2017
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Grenfell neighbourhood residents have called a protest 6pm Friday 16 June at Department for Commun
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15 Jun 2017
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Tenants will protest tomorrow, 15 June from 8am outside a Developers' fo
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14 Jun 2017
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Save the Central Hill Estate (Lambeth SE19)protesting outside a Lambeth Council meeting 6.30pm Wed
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19 Apr 2017
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The long-delayed detailed proposals put some new money on the table BUT
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28 Mar 2010
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250 delegates from 59 areas at the biggest and broadest DCH conference so far
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19 Mar 2010
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Tenants on the Ferguslie estate in Renfrewshire, Scotland, have voted NO to privatisation.
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17 Nov 2009
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The first national meeting since the sad death of Alan Walter agreed to step up the work of DCH
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09 May 2009
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DCH welcomes Brown's commitment to council housing
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30 Jan 2009
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