Advertisement
Housing

Grenfell management group relieved of its duties

Following the deadly tower block fire, Theresa May reveals Kensington and Chelsea TMO will no longer be running the housing estate

In the wake of the terrible Grenfell Tower disaster, the estate’s management organisation has been just one of the groups to have faced fierce criticism from the former residents.

Although a public inquiry is yet to establish fault for the fire, the Prime Minister announced today that Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (TMO) will no longer be responsible for the Lancaster Estate that includes Grenfell.

May informed former residents of the decision at a meeting with at least 60 survivors on Tuesday.

On Wednesday she told the BBC: “I was pleased that I was able to tell them…that the tenant management organisation will no longer have responsibility for the Lancaster West housing estate.”

“People were pleased to hear that.”

The Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO) was set up back in 1996, part of the “stock transfer” wave of social housing estates moving out of council control.

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Advertisement

The TMO continues to manage almost 10,000 properties in the west London neighbourhood, while Kensington and Chelsea Council takes over the running of Lancaster Estate on a temporary basis.

We will do it with them

Elizabeth Campbell, leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council, said the local authority would consider “all options” in deciding who would now manage the estate in future.

The council has thus far struggled to secure long-term housing for the Grenfell’s former residents. So far, only nine offers of permanent accommodation have been taken up, although the council now has 105 properties it is offering to survivors.

“Absolutely every single person will be phoned up, we will engage one-to-one and we will do it with them,” said Campbell.

Dozens of others made homeless by the fire have been living in temporary accommodation.

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

READER-SUPPORTED SINCE 1991

Reader-supported journalism that doesn’t just report problems, it helps solve them.

Recommended for you

Read All
Could building new train stations help get Britain back on track?
An aerial shot of Beaulieu Park station
Railways

Could building new train stations help get Britain back on track?

The challenge of counting hidden homelessness in Britain
Hidden homelessness

The challenge of counting hidden homelessness in Britain

Bear Grylls puts focus on hidden homelessness in new short film: 'We can break the stigma'
Bear Grylls reading a Big Issue magazine in a short film about hidden homelessness
Homelessness

Bear Grylls puts focus on hidden homelessness in new short film: 'We can break the stigma'

This charity uses McDonald's to fight hidden homelessness
Hidden homelessness

This charity uses McDonald's to fight hidden homelessness

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payments: Where to get help in 2025 now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payments: Where to get help in 2025 now the scheme is over

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue