Islington Tribune - News: £5,000 payout to tenant left too long in damp flat

Publications by New Journal Enterprises

Home

Archive

Competition

Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER
Published: 8 February 2008

£5,000 payout to tenant left too long in damp flat

A TENANT whose health suffered when she had to live for too long in a damp flat has won £5,000 damages from the Town Hall.
Local Government Ombudsman Tony Redmond has ruled that there was maladministration, causing injustice.
In his report, he said the damp problems continued even though work was done before the woman moved into her flat.
She later moved out for four weeks so repairs could be finished.
Mr Redmond found that the woman’s health suffered because of the failure to resolve the dampness problem. She had to give up her job, suffered stress and anxiety and had to live for longer than necessary in poor conditions.
The woman complained that the council failed to deal with the dampness problem, which began in January 2005.
It took 18 months to settle an insurance claim for belongings damaged by dampness.
The council told her it would make storage areas in her basement habitable but this has not happened.
As well as paying £5,000 compensation, the council is to review its policy on empty properties, to ensure it is made clear in writing which parts of the tenant’s accommodation were meant for habitation and which parts were not, and to review the procedure on insurance claims to clarify who deals with what.
Mr Redmond said the council should either resolve the damp problem and complete repairs in three months, or offer to rehouse the woman.

Comment on this article.
(You must supply your full name and email address for your comment to be published)

Name:

Email:

Comment: