Tenants threaten legal action over hot homes

Tenants who say they are living in hot homes say they could become the first to take legal action against their housing association over excessive heat.

Residents of flats in Canada Court and Clifton Lodge in Woolwich, south-east London, claim the buildings are not fit for purpose, with one saying her flat reached up to 43C (110F) in the summer.

PA Housing said it was monitoring internal temperatures throughout the year to support residents. It added the buildings were built according to regulations enforced at the time.

Lawyers for the residents say potential legal action could be the first time a claim has been filed for excessive heat under the Home Act 2018.

Keisha was contacted by Imran Khan and Partners who offered their services after she told the BBC their homes were making their children sick.

She said her top-floor flat, where she has lived for eight years, can reach up to 43C in summer, and the baseline temperature is around 31C (88F).

"I feel like this building is inhumane, I don't think it's fit for purpose.

"We've got elderly, vulnerable, sick, children, your regular adults working and living, and I've not met anybody who is able to be comfortable and happy in their home."

She added: "Over the years it's just got worse, I believe personally, so we've made a conscious decision to come together and push harder."

Keisha says her windows do not open in the hottest rooms, which makes the excessive heat worse.

Pre-action letters seen by BBC London claim that PA Housing has failed to comply with the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, which states that living conditions must be fit for human habitation.

Chris Sayudo, chair of the tenant association at Clifton Lodge and Canada Court, said the buildings' corridors reached 48C (120F) in the summer.

"It's a combination of problems; the build-up of heat in the building - because there's no real ventilation - and the fact there are leaks in the cupboards and communal areas means there is a massive amount of mould," he said.

"Not just in communal areas, but in our flats as well because we don't have ventilation. There's a built-in new air ventilation system but it doesn't do anything. It's not effective."

He added: "The worse thing is you can't sleep. You're lucky if you get two-three hours because it's so uncomfortable."

Sayudo has covered his balcony in plants to keep the sun out, which helps to reduce the temperature in his flat but "doesn't do anything about the internal build up".

"When you get into a communal area where the stench of the mould hits you, you know full well that it's harming you," he said.

He added he felt uncomfortable "all the time" but could not afford to deal with it himself.

"I can't move out. I've got nowhere else I can go. You've got a landlord who doesn't do anything. It's wilful neglect. They've known for months."

BBC London has seen multiple email exchanges where Sayudo has flagged issues in the home.

"I've had surveyors in the last few months but actual work, despite the fact they promised us they will do work, they just don't do it," he said.

He added he had seen cleaners and contractors leaving the building pouring with sweat because the lift had broken too.

When BBC London filmed in the communal corridors and two flats in December, the air was muggy with the smell of damp and mould. There was thick black mould in the communal cupboards.

After contacting PA Housing for comment in January, the housing association said it cleaned up the mould when it was reported to them.

Michael McDonagh, chief executive of PA Housing, said the issue was mainly concentrated to communal intake cupboards rather than residents' homes.

He said an "increasing number" were experiencing "uncomfortably warm temperatures in their homes due to the changing climate".

"This is an issue that, we agree, needs to be addressed across the housing sector. Like most properties in the UK, Canada Court and Clifton Lodge were designed to keep heat in rather than keep them cool.

"However, when they were built, they met all relevant planning and building regulations at the time.

"All the same, we will be putting measures in place to monitor internal temperatures at both buildings as a way of understanding whether this is just an issue during excessive heat or throughout the year so we can support residents as much as we can."

He added: "This is a difficult situation that the sector and the government, not just PA Housing, need to address."

The government has said it is investing £13.2bn to improve up to five million homes to "boost energy efficiency and to cope with higher temperatures".

"We are also taking action to strengthen climate resilience across government and local communities, improving our infrastructure and making sure homes are fit for the future," a spokesperson added.

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