Islington Residents Endure Six Years of Scaffolding, Safety Fears

Residents of Archway Heights in Islington have endured over six years of disruption caused by scaffolding, which they say has led to significant safety concerns, including trespassing and anti-social behaviour. The temporary structure, erected for remedial cladding works following the Grenfell tragedy in 2017, has also resulted in a loss of light and disrepair within the building.

Dwayne Lewis, a resident since 2023, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that despite the scaffolding being in place before he moved in, little work appears to have been done, apart from the addition of new mesh netting. Residents have also reported issues such as leaks from vandalised skylights, prolonged heating outages, and security breaches leading to break-ins. Reports of people defecating in communal areas have also been made.

Personal Safety Fears

The scaffolding has been identified as a key factor enabling intruders to access the building. Natasha Dyett recounted an incident in July where she woke to find a man standing outside her bedroom window, watching her. She stated she had never been so scared and noted that motion sensors and alarms failed to trigger during the intrusion. Mr Lewis described the scaffolding as a 'platform for people to get into the building'.

Mr Lewis also expressed a belief that the building is being 'managed into decline' while rents continue to rise. He questioned why cladding remediation, a priority post-Grenfell, was taking so long. The cost of maintaining the scaffolding has not been officially established by the landlord, though a resident claimed staff had mentioned a figure of £500,000 per year.

Landlord's Position and Regulatory Issues

Places for People, the current landlord, stated that work cannot commence until consent is obtained from the Building Safety Regulator. The housing association indicated that delays are due to factors beyond its control and are affecting high-rise buildings nationwide. The previous landlord, Origin Housing Ltd, was downgraded by the Regulator of Social Housing in 2023 for non-compliance, before being subsumed by Places for People in April 2026.

The landlord expects a decision from the Building Safety Regulator in November, with remediation works estimated to take 12 months once approved. A Places for People spokesperson acknowledged residents' frustration, stating that while many issues are outside their control, other aspects could have been handled differently. They confirmed that the scaffolding is a necessary safety measure and that a programme of regular checks is in place to ensure fire safety standards.

Places for People has provided goodwill payments of £317.50 per property twice a year to affected tenants in recognition of the disruption. The association also reported that it has inspected heating outages, upgraded entrance and lobby doors, improved access controls, worked with local partners on anti-social behaviour, and introduced temporary overnight security.

Resident Campaigning

Residents, campaigning as part of the ACORN renters' union, have been actively engaging neighbours to build support against the landlord. ACORN has organised meetings and protests, setting a deadline of Thursday, October 15, for Places for People to respond to their demands for repairs and safety investigations. The LDRS understands that the housing association has since replied to ACORN's demands.

An ACORN spokesperson stated that members at Archway Heights are living in unsafe conditions, not receiving adequate services, and are being kept uninformed about the planned remediation, preventing them from living 'dignified lives'.

Places for People stated that they expect a decision from the Building Safety Regulator in November, with remediation works estimated to take 12 months thereafter. The ACORN renters' union has set a deadline of October 15 for the landlord's response to their demands.