Somerton House TA Chair, Simon, who was re-elected unanimously at the November AGM, has sent a blistering message to the staff of Camden’s housing department.

In an open email to Neil Litherland, Director of Housing, Simon explains in no uncertain terms that over the last two years, the people responsible for renovating Somerton House under the “Pride of Place” scheme have wasted money, accepted and paid for work which was grossly not fit for it’s purpose, and continued after the works for a total of eighteen months to argue amongst themselves as to who should foot the bill.

The residents fought tooth and nail for renovations to be completed, funding for the renovations came from the Government – tax payers up and down the country footed the bill for council owned homes across the UK to be brought up to an acceptable standard.

Residents of Somerton House have been asked a record three times to submit details of any issues with incomplete work, work which has failed, or outstanding faults. Council representatives have attempted to survey residents within the last week (a fourth time the information has been collected?) – quite helpfully coming out during the working day, when not quite as many people are at home.

The list of issues caused by the “Pride of Place” works has continued to grow as time carries on.

• Residents were shown windows which covered the whole glazed area, but had their light cut by as much as 30% when project manager Edosa changed the design without consulting residents.
• The reduction in glazed area is made up with a plastic sheet – although it is claimed that this material reduces noise, and improves insulation, no proof has been provided, and residents are colder.
• The windows have started to bow in some areas where prevaling northerly winds affect them.
• The windows to not offer any sound insulation, as their ‘spacing’ – the area between the two sheets of glass, is too narrow for homes on such a busy thoroughfare.
• The concrete panels beneath the windows were insulated with newspaper in some cases. Silicon glue was used to glue the frames together. This is now beginning to fail.
• Some residents have started to get leaks on their floor during heavy rain. Although this was brought to the council’s attention over one year ago, the windows still leak.

Ironically, when complaints were submitted to the Director Of Housing, he instructed the Manager of Pride of Place, Karen Honey, to investigate – never before has the TA known a case where a person actively involved with creating a problem was allowed to investigate how the problem came about. The TA has seen a confidential memo between Mr Litherland and other member of the Council where it is strongly suggested that tenants are to blame.

• Doors were replaced for some residents to keep the area ‘aesthetically pleasing’. These doors to not adhere to British Safety standards. No-one at the Council has been willing to deal with this issue for over eighteen months.

• Communal carpets were removed in favour of a linoleum floor. Except the caretakers have no access to hot water to clean it.

• Access panels to areas beneath the communal corridors were broken by council employees who did not have the correct tool (or training) to raise them. Eighteen months on the building is still awaiting a solution.

• In some cases doors were only painted on the outside, ‘because it didn’t say both sides on the contract’.
• Thomas Sinden, the contractor for the £750,000 renovation work, removed residents stored items from designated locations to water storage cupboards, amongst other areas. Council employees were very quick to remove the personal posessions, without notice, yet are not as quick to fix other faults.

• The Intercom system into the building was interfered with my Sinden contractors. This has now been faulty in most flats since April 2006.

• As part of an ongoing renovation to the Premier Inn hotel, low-level lighting on the ground floor, and essential health & safety lighting on the lower ground floor was removed, and has not been reinstated by the Council – they are too busy arguing over who can pay for an essential safety item.

This is only the surface of what has been an ongoing battle to give the residents of Somerton House a home fit for purpose.

The building freeholder, Whitbread plc, and Camden Council’s press office have been asked for a comment on this article. When responses are received we will post them here.