• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

MayorWatch

London News and Comment

  • NEWS
  • COMMENT
  • Twitter

Growth of ‘hidden housing’ threatens rise in fire deaths

January 24, 2012 - Martin Hoscik@martinhoscik

London firefighters will on strike in a dispute over shift patterns
Firefighters have warned against using unsuitable properties as housing. Image: LFEPA
Rising levels of “hidden housing” could lead to an increase in fire deaths unless urgent action is taken, the London Fire Brigade has warned.

The Brigade says there is evidence that the number of sheds, garages and other unsuitable buildings being used as accommodation is on the rise.

In the last three months the Brigade has issued eight prohibition notices on such properties, preventing them being used as housing.

Firefighters have already see deaths arising from the use of unsuitable properties as housing and in in November fire safety inspectors in Brent closed a number of commercial buildings in which around 150 people were living.

The Brigade was alerted to the problem following a fire in an office block where firefighters rescued six people. A subsequent inspection of the building revealed seventeen rooms with over 50 people living in them.

Fire safety officers found virtually no fire safety features inside and believe a more fire serious fire could easily have ripped through the entire building, leaving residents struggling to escape.

The Brigade has asked Mayor of London Boris Johnson to look at ways of preventing such use as part of his revised housing strategy.

Rita Dexter, Deputy Commissioner of the London Fire Brigade, says: “Beds in sheds, garages being used as housing, industrial units being used as sleeping accommodation – these are all potentially lethal fire traps.

“It’s inevitable that people living in these shoddy developments rely on far riskier ways of heating, cooking and lighting their home. They are also  being exploited by unscrupulous landlords who are happy to take their money without any regard for their safety.

 “The nature of the accommodation means that this is largely a  hidden problem in our city and we would like the Mayor to look at ways of helping us get to grips with the extent of it before  more people lose their lives or are injured in fires.”

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

Comments

  1. julie @ housing associations says

    January 30, 2012 at 11:27 am

    Whilst the risk of injury and potentially worse through inadequate safety measures and equipment are shocking enough in and of themselves, surely the more concerning is the rise in this kind of housing and more importantly, the causes of it.

    These ‘properties’ are nothing of the kind, and it’s truly frightening to think that there are people out there not only capable of setting up illegal housing, but more than willing to exploit those most in need to make profit.

    More affordable housing and housing solutions for those in need is what needs to be created in order to stamp this out.

RECENT UPDATES

Crossrail delayed until 2021 and bosses say project could go a further £650 million over budget

TfL uses WiFi data to improve Journey Planner’s accuracy

Mike Brown to leave TfL for new role overseeing Parliament’s renovation

Transport for London seeks views on new Bakerloo line extension plans




Popular

City Hall calls in Deloitte to boost BAME progression and close ethnicity pay gap

City Hall to review pay levels amid recruitment and staff retention concerns

TfL appoints ‘Build to Rent’ partner and promises to built 3,000 new rental homes across London

TfL confirms £1bn deal to sell and leaseback Elizabeth line trains

FEATURED

City Hall halts London Overground ticket office closures but many will still see opening hours reduced

Transport for London confirms bus cuts will go ahead despite passenger opposition

City Hall and TfL publish action plan to cut lorry and van deliveries in London

TfL planning return of annual fare hikes as agency looks to balance books following Crossrail delay

GOT A STORY?

As the original London news and scrutiny site we've been casting an eye over the capital's public services and politicians since 1999.

 

Many of our top stories started with a tip-off from a reader - if you've got something you'd like us to cover get in touch and we'll do the rest.

Stay In Touch

  • E-mail
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2019 MayorWatch Publications Limited · MayorWatch is Registered Trademark · All Rights Reserved · Contact Us · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy

MayorWatch Publications Limited · 20-22 Wenlock Road · London N1 7GU · Company Number 6291816

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.