Four years after ITV News exposed: Croydon Council out of special measures
A council that left families in dangerous, uninhabitable homes has been taken out of special measures, four years after ITV News exposed widespread failings.
Our report inside a tower block on Regina Road in South London in March 2021 led to national outrage, with the Prime Minister condemning the uninhabitable, unsafe conditions of homes managed by Croydon Council and the announcement of two independent investigations.
For many years tenants' constant complaints about disrepair were ignored as they were left to live in homes described by Shelter as the worst housing they had ever seen.
The whitewashed walls had turned black, a furry fungus growing on every surface. Water cascaded through light fittings and into plug sockets, plunging the properties into darkness. The floors were sodden.
Tenants were forced to place buckets and baby baths under the leaking water. The homes were infested with slugs and a environmental health inspection found a mum and her two children were at risk of electrocution.
An independent inquiry later concluded the health of tenants was put at risk and that the council failed to keep them safe.
The Regulator for Social Housing concluded the council had breached the safety standards and placed into special measures.
"Taking into account the seriousness of the issues, the durations for which tenants were potentially exposed to risk, and the number of tenants potentially affected, the regulator has concluded that it is proportionate to find that LB Croydon has breached the Home Standard and the Tenant Involvement and Empowerment Standard and that there was a risk of serious detriment to tenants during this period", said the Regulator in May 2021.
Only now, more than four year on, has the Regulator withdrawn its regulatory notice and removed the council from special measures, assessing the housing service to be at acceptable and safe standards.
Following a vote by residents, the Regina Road estate exposed in the ITV News investigation are to be demolished and replaced with a new £100 million social housing development.
The regeneration will deliver at least 225 new council homes, green spaces, a preschool, and community facilities, say the Council.
The demolition of the first tower block, 1-87 Regina Road, is underway and is expected to be completed by the autumn.
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