Residents across housing estates in Southwark have demanded urgent action to fix 'unsafe' housing conditions that they say are harming their physical and mental health. The Wyndham Heat Network Action Group, a resident and tenant-led campaign, officially launched on June 3 to highlight ongoing problems with the communal heating system affecting the Wyndham and Comber Estate and the Brandon 2 and 3 Estates.
Residents Report Repeated Outages
Residents report hot water and heating outages, with some flats overheating while others have no heat at all. One anonymous resident of Brandon 2 Estate for nearly two decades said: "All I'm asking for is a living space where people can live. We pay our charges and rent, and we ask for decent homes." She described contractors who sometimes fail to fix issues properly.
Fowziya Ali, another resident, described her elderly neighbour's flat as "like opening an oven." She said: "She's over 80 and can't navigate phone calls for an hour. No one is listening to her."
Health Impacts Highlighted
Dr Laura-Jane Smith, a respiratory consultant at King's College Hospital, said: "Some homes have been severely neglected. People do everything right but are still sick due to damp, mould, and temperature extremes." Residents link conditions to breathing problems, stress, disrupted sleep, and mental health issues.
The Southwark Group of Tenants Organisations (SGTO) and health justice organisation Medact support the campaign. A Medact representative said: "Housing is a fundamental determinant of health. When homes are not safe, dry, and warm, people's health suffers."
Council Response
Cllr Reginald Popoola, Executive Member for Council Homes at Southwark Council, acknowledged the heat network is 'overdue for renewal' and work is being done in phases. He said: "Renewing the networks to make them efficient and reliable is a top priority. Once achieved, boilers can be replaced with permanent options." He added that pipes erode or experience blockages over time, which officers are working to address.
Action Group Demands
The Wyndham Heat Network Action Group demands a detailed explanation for delays in repairs and major works, and a tenant-led board to investigate issues with regular oversight meetings.
