Bell, our MP, is campaigning to force our landlords to take action on damp in leasehold properties
Five residents met Bell on Thursday 2nd February 2023. We said there is damp across the estate. Dry lining has worked in tenanted properties. A minority of leaseholders have had a survey done and that has recommended dry lining too but the onus is on the leaseholders to arrange the work
Bell said if dry lining is needed because of a fault in the building then it should be considered a major work and billed as such.
She will write to the executives of the three housing associations to say she expects them to launch a major works program to install dry lining in all flats (tenanted or leasehold) that would benefit. If she doesn’t hear from them within two weeks (i.e. by 16th February 2023) she will get in touch again to talk about how she can work with the TRA to publicly shame them.
On 16th February MTVH replied to our MP to say “We’ve spoken with the Resident Association on several occasions about the leaseholder repair responsibilities. This covers improvements of things like adding dry lining or thermal boarding. This would always be the responsibility of the leaseholder. We carry out works to leaseholder properties for the things we are responsible for and only after going through a consultation exercise. Leaseholders have to pay a contribution for eligible works to the property. If this is something that leaseholders wanted to consider, we could open a discussion about running a programme of thermal boarding across the estate but this would be on a paid for basis … [MTVH] should be happy to meet with you [i.e. the MP]”
Bell is particularly concerned about any residents (tenants or leaseholders) where damp might be exacerbating their health problems. If this means you please email bell.ribeiroaddy.mp@parliament.uk, and please copy in StMartinsResidentsLambeth@gmail.com
St Martins TRA 