Industry News
HA residents moved out of London blocks over fire safety issues
Two housing associations are moving the occupants of flats in London out of their homes, after revealing that urgent fire safety works are required in each case to make safe the tower blocks where they live. Residents of the 50 homes at the Merle Court development in South Kilburn were told by Catalyst that they would be moved out of the seven-storey block so that work to rectify a series of fire safety issues could begin. Then residents at the 54-home Arch
Street scheme property in Elephant and Castle, south London were told at the beginning of May by L&Q, that they needed to move for emergency fire safety work. In both instances the work is expected to take between 18 and 24 months to complete with no guarantee that residents will be able to move back when it is completed. The works include the replacement of external cladding. At Merle Court it is aluminium composite material cladding, while at Arch Street the cladding is high-pressure laminate.
While the two HAs have said they will try to rehouse residents in the same areas as the blocks, they are unable to promise this will be possible in all cases.
Compensation for the disruption and
reasonable associated costs with moving are to be paid. L&Q and Catalyst confirmed that they will buy back properties from shared owners and leaseholders if they chose to take that step. This is the second Catalyst block found
to have fire safety issues that need to be rectified. Dan Court at Park Royal estate, in Brent
has ACM cladding but residents will not be required to move out. L&Q has set aside £50m to cover the costs of replacement cladding and additional fire safety works at its properties with 15 of its blocks identified as having ACM cladding.
Government consulting on new duty to support survivors of domestic abuse
new package of support announced by the Government. For the first time ever, a legal duty is to be placed
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on councils to deliver support to survivors of domestic abuse in accommodation-based services backed by funding to place services on a sustainable footing and ensuring need in their local area is met. This is intended to provide consistency across the
country, ending the current postcode lottery in the support given to those fleeing domestic abuse. Currently domestic abuse is estimated to affect the lives of over 2 million survivors and their families every year. A 12 week consultation was launched in mid May
as part of a Government drive to bolster protection for survivors of domestic abuse, including a landmark Domestic Abuse Bill. Local authorities will also be required to work
together with neighbouring councils to ensure domestic abuse services reflects the needs of local people – including targeted, specialist support for BAME, LGBT and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller survivors. The Domestic Abuse Bill will introduce the first-
ever statutory definition of domestic abuse to specifically include economic abuse and controlling and manipulative non-physical abuse. The Bill will also establish a new Domestic Abuse Commissioner and prohibit the cross-examination of victims by their abusers in the family courts.
ABHORRENT CRIME In launching the consultation, Theresa May said: “I’ve always vowed to leave no stone unturned in tackling domestic abuse – this abhorrent crime has no place in our country. Whoever you are, wherever you live and whatever the abuse you face, you will have access to the services you need to be safe.” Communities Secretary, James Brokenshire,
added: “Domestic abuse destroys lives and I am determined to drive the change necessary to ensure families never have to endure the pain of domestic abuse in silence. For the first time, local authorities will have to legally assess levels of support needed in their local area and match that need with vital, life- saving services – helping untold numbers of families to safely rebuild their lives, free from the threat of pernicious abuse.” Local authorities will be required to develop and
publish strategies which set out in detail the range of support services available for survivors and their children – including refuge accommodation and
10 | HMM June/July 2019 |
www.housingmmonline.co.uk
housands of survivors fleeing abusive and violent relationships will receive greater protection from local authorities through a
Theresa May said: “I’ve always vowed to leave no stone unturned in tackling domestic abuse – this abhorrent crime has no place in our country. Whoever you are, wherever you live and whatever the abuse you face, you will have access to the services you need to be safe.”
specialist support from safety through to independence. Funding will be provided to place these vital
services on a long-term, sustainable footing, with the level of funding to be determined with stakeholders as part of the consultation process. Ministers say they want to hear from victims and
survivors, service and housing providers, local authorities, police and crime commissioners, other public agencies and other professionals who support victims and their children every day.
NEW REFUGE PLACES In November last year, ministers awarded £22 million for domestic abuse projects across the country – ensuring thousands more survivors have access to the help they need as they move towards a safe and healthy future, free from domestic abuse. Funding will help to provide over 2,200 new beds
in refuges and other safe accommodation, as well as access to education and tailored employment and life skills guidance. Sandra Horley, CBE, Chief Executive of Refuge,
said: “We are delighted by the decision to place a legal duty on local authorities to provide funding for accommodation based support for survivors of domestic abuse. “This has the potential to end the postcode
lottery for refuge places and could put these life- saving services on a secure financial footing for the first time. It could provide vital protection to tens of
thousands of women and children who experience violence and intimidation in the home. Women and children deserve and need to live in safety.”
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