A tenant in Westminster is finally compensated after waiting nearly a year for urgent repairs to be completed in his home
Westminster: A tenant has been through quite a hassle waiting for repairs. He had to deal with exposed electrical wires in his bathroom for almost a year. Can you believe that?
The council finally agreed to pay him nearly £4,800 after he raised concerns back in December 2023. This guy was living alone and dealing with some serious health issues like asthma and arthritis. It’s tough enough without having to fight for basic repairs.
He kept reporting the problem, but nothing happened. He even asked for some changes to make the bathroom safer, like a level-access shower. But instead of fixing things, they told him to look for a new place.
After a long wait, a surveyor finally came out in January but couldn’t do much since there was no power. It wasn’t until October that they sent someone to really check things out. By then, the tenant was fed up and escalated his complaint.
In November 2024, the housing team manager visited him and apologized for the delays. They admitted they dropped the ball and should have handled his complaint better. It’s nice they recognized their mistakes, but it shouldn’t have taken so long.
Even though the tenant wasn’t looking for compensation, the council offered him £4,795.74, which included a refund of half his rent since December. They’re also planning to check on other issues in his home, like the kitchen ventilation and some smoke alarms.
It’s a relief to see some action finally happening, but it’s a shame it took so long. Westminster City Council has been asked for their take on the situation.
