Ashford Council to Inspect 5,000 Homes After 'Unacceptable' Maintenance Issues

Ashford Borough Council (ABC) is set to inspect over 5,000 council homes in Kent after an independent regulator, Housing Quality Network (HQN), found "unacceptable" maintenance issues, including mould and damp, failing to meet the government's Decent Homes Standard (DHS). The review revealed problems with ABC's process of measuring DHS, out-of-date stock condition surveys, and ineffective property management frameworks for delivering compliance and building safety.

Why this matters: The failure to maintain decent living conditions in council homes can have serious consequences for the health and wellbeing of tenants, particularly vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly. This issue highlights the need for effective oversight and accountability in social housing management to ensure that tenants are provided with safe and decent homes.

Tenants like Amy Metcalfe and Stacey Cosier have been battling mould and damp issues in their ABC properties for years. Metcalfe, a 22-year-old mother of two, has dealt with mould in her two-bedroom flat in Meadowsweet House, Hackfield, for over two years. "I believe there is a leak somewhere... In my children's bedroom, during the winter, one corner of their wall where the mould comes was literally soaked," Metcalfe stated. Cosier, also a mother of two, has faced similar problems in her Smarden home, leading to her son developing asthma. "I've had dehumidifiers in every room, and nothing has worked. All of our belongings are ruined. My children have to sleep in the middle of the room because I don't know what else I can do," Cosier shared.

In response to the findings, ABC has referred itself to the Regulator of Social Housing and apologized to tenants. Council chief executive Tracey Kerly has written to residents, promising an action plan to rectify the issues. A full stock condition survey of over 5,000 properties is underway, focusing on kitchens, bathrooms, and roofs. Appointments will be made with tenants, and surveys are expected to take around an hour to complete.

Despite promises from ABC to address the issues, many tenants continue to face unresolved problems. In May 2022, ABC promised to send a specialist ventilation contractor to survey Metcalfe's property, but this has still not happened nearly two years later. Cosier, who pays £700 per month in rent, has been dealing with mould and damp issues since a flood next door in December 2022. An ABC spokesman told KentOnline in July 2022 that the authority was working with Cosier to fix the issues, but 10 months on, the problems persist.

The independent regulator's findings have exposed serious failings in Ashford Borough Council's maintenance and management of its council homes. As the authority embarks on a comprehensive survey of over 5,000 properties, tenants like Amy Metcalfe and Stacey Cosier hope that their long-standing issues with mould and damp will finally be resolved. The council's response andaction planwill be closely monitored to ensure that all residents are provided with safe, decent homes that meet the government's standards.

Key Takeaways

• Ashford Borough Council to inspect 5,000 council homes due to "unacceptable" maintenance issues.
• Independent regulator finds mould, damp, and other issues failing to meet Decent Homes Standard.
• Tenants face serious health risks, including asthma, due to poor living conditions.
• Council apologizes and promises action plan, including full stock condition survey.
• Tenants remain skeptical, citing unresolved issues and broken promises.