Trapped in Hazardous Housing

Residents call out council’s use of policy that leaves no homes for families most in need.

PILC is representing residents who are challenging Southwark council’s use of an unpublished policy that is leaving the most in-need families without homes to bid on. 

Months ago, social housing properties suddenly disappeared from the bidding website with no explanation. It was only after the council let slip to a local newspaper about its "new annual lettings policy" that residents started to get an idea of what was going on.  

Instead of allocating social homes through the bidding system, these homes are now being allocated by direct offers, with residents having little idea of how people are selected. This disorganised and unfair approach has meant that there have been no homes for those with the highest housing need to bid on.

Members of Housing Action Southwark and Lambeth (HASL) are challenging the use of the policy. 

The greatest need isn’t being met 

Families are put in the top bands of the housing waiting list because they have urgent housing needs. This can include things like statutory overcrowding or having a severe medical need to move. 

Usually, people who are in bands 1 and 2 of the housing waiting list would be able to bid for social housing within a few weeks or months. But since the council introduced the new policy there have been no homes for those in the highest housing need to bid on. 

Edith is a member of HASL and is one of the families challenging the council’s policy. Her 7-year-old daughter has very severe medical needs due to end stage kidney failure. She is on dialysis every day for 10-12 hours.  

They live in a small and cramped flat where lots of the space is taken up by her medical equipment. The family agreed that they urgently needed to move to a bigger place, and were awarded band 2. 

But without any explanation from the council, there have been no properties to bid on.  

She said “As parents, we have been fighting hard to make sure our daughter has the best possible housing to support her health and well-being. It’s deeply upsetting and demoralising that Southwark council are not treating our case fairly and are making up their own rules that disadvantage us.”  

She goes on to say “This legal challenge is important for us and also for others on the housing waiting list as well. Everyone deserves to be treated fairly.” 

Strong warning 

The families have instructed lawyers PILC and have sent a legal letter to Southwark council requesting that they: 

• stop allocating accommodation under its unpublished direct offer policy;

• agree that the unpublished policy was used unlawfully and discriminatorily;

• agree not to implement any such scheme in the future.

If the council does not take this urgent action, the families will proceed with Judicial Review in the High Court.  

About HASL 

Housing Action Southwark and Lambeth (HASL) is a housing action group of families and individuals struggling with homelessness, overcrowded housing and other poor housing conditions. They celebrated their 11th birthday last April marking over a decade of housing solidarity across south London by those at the worst end of the housing crisis. 

Keep in touch with them via their website, twitter @housingactionsl, on Facebook or on Instagram @housing_action_sl.

Changes to housing policy don’t just affect the borough they are used in. They can also set the tone for what other councils put into practice, too.  

PILC works with residents and campaigners to support their efforts to make sure people have access to adequate safe and secure housing.  

If you would like to talk to us about a housing issues, contact Helen at office@pilc.org.uk