Tory minister Sajid Javid promises comprehensive review of Britain’s council homes in the wake of Grenfell tragedy
TOP TORY Sajid Javid yesterday promised a “top to bottom” review of Britain’s council homes in the wake of the Grenfell tower block fire tragedy.
The Communities Secretary said the shake-up would look to improve the stock of social housing – and ensure tenants concerns are finally heard.
He told a housing conference the review would be the “most substantial report of its kind for a generation”.
Speaking in Birmingham, he said: “While I don’t want to prejudge the findings of the public or police enquiries, it’s clear that in the months and the years before the fire the residents of Grenfell tower were not listened to, that their concerns were ignored or dismissed, that too many people in positions of power saw tenants less as people with families and more as problems that needed to be managed.”
He added: “The legacy of Grenfell, the lessons that we learn, the changes that we make, none of that should be confined to fire safety."
The Cabinet Minister reflected on his own upbringing and being told there was no point aiming high as kids from the area of Bristol where he grew up “simply didn’t take A-Levels or go to university."
The minister and MP for Bromsgrove added: “It [the review] will look at the overall quality of social homes, many of which are now beginning to show their age.
“It will cover service management, the way social homes and their tenants are taken care of.
“It will look at the rights of tenants and show how their voices can be better heard.
“And it will cover what can be done to ensure their complaints are taken seriously and dealt with properly, and make sure tenants have clear, timely avenues to seek redress when things do go wrong.”
