Clifton Lodge and Canada Court residents would still like their homes to be safer from extreme heat. Throughout the region, temperatures have skyrocketed to dangerous extremes. Chris Sayudo, the president of the tenant association, shared a very disturbing alarm. In the Sahara desert in summer, the dry bulb temperature in the building corridors can exceed 48°C (120°F). Keisha’s home in a top-floor flat has learned that when she is at home her apartment regularly reaches an oppressive 43°C (109°F) and most of the time remains at a default temperature of 31°C (88°F). Tenants are already looking to bring legal action for breaches of the Home Act 2018. If successful, this might be the first such claim filed to remedy problems with excessive heat.
The buildings were designed with an emphasis on keeping heat in. This design decision might be a feature in many UK homes, at times at the expense of proper cooling. As temperatures rise, residents express discomfort, stating they experience only two to three hours of relief from the heat each day. Chris Sayudo has greened over his balcony in an effort to shade his unit. This has continued to reduce overall temperatures in his flat but it has not addressed the problem of heat build-up internally.
Keisha does have a difficult undertaking ahead of her. Her windows won’t open in her hottest rooms, exacerbating the heat issue. Michael McDonagh, the chief executive of PA Housing, pointed to one central finding. He explained that the biggest concentration of heat is in shared incoming cupboards, rather than within individual apartments. PA Housing has been on the front lines fixing some of these issues. In the time since the initial BBC London report aired back in December, they’ve been cleaning mould from communal areas.
These are issues that residents have been sounding the alarm on for months. In an interview, Chris Sayudo, one of the affected tenants, shared their frustration at being consistently ignored by their landlord.
“I can’t move out. I’ve got nowhere else I can go. You’ve got a landlord who doesn’t do anything. It’s wilful neglect. They’ve known for months.” – Chris Sayudo
He detailed ongoing issues related to ventilation, stating, “Not just in communal areas, but in our flats as well because we don’t have ventilation. There’s a built-in new air ventilation system but it doesn’t do anything. It’s not effective.”
This hardship endured by tenants is highlighted by testimony from Keisha, as she expressed her fear for her family’s health and safety.
“I feel like this building is inhumane, I don’t think it’s fit for purpose. We’ve got elderly, vulnerable, sick, children, your regular adults working and living, and I’ve not met anybody who is able to be comfortable and happy in their home.” – Keisha
IMBA’s Michael McDonagh acknowledged the growing alarm. He promised that PA Housing would closely monitor indoor temperatures in both residences to figure out if the problem persists outside of periods of intense heat.
“All the same, we will be putting measures in place to monitor internal temperatures at both buildings as a way of understanding whether this is just an issue during excessive heat or throughout the year so we can support residents as much as we can.” – Michael McDonagh
The government only recently committed £13.2 billion to retrofit better energy efficiency measures into up to five million homes by 2030. This new, smart growth-focused initiative will help communities address increasing temperatures and build greater climate resilience.
Chris reiterated that it’s gotten worse over the years which forced tenants to come together and demand change.
“When you get into a communal area where the stench of the mould hits you, you know full well that it’s harming you.” – Chris Sayudo
Responding through their lawyers, PA Housing vehemently maintains that the buildings always met all applicable planning and building codes when they were constructed. Tenants argue that these standards are inadequate given the stark climate threats of today.
“Over the years it’s just got worse, I believe personally, so we’ve made a conscious decision to come together and push harder.” – Chris Sayudo
As spending fans the flames of discontent among residents, a lawsuit clouds the future. Depending on the outcome, this case could establish an important precedent for the rights of tenants to be free from inhumane living conditions.
“This is an issue that, we agree, needs to be addressed across the housing sector. Like most properties in the UK, Canada Court and Clifton Lodge were designed to keep heat in rather than keep them cool.” – Michael McDonagh
As residents continue to voice their grievances, potential legal action looms on the horizon. The outcome could set a significant precedent regarding tenants’ rights concerning extreme living conditions.
