Voyage Voices
The Hidden Dangers of Social Housing: A Crisis Waiting to Happen!
Author: Alyssia Tachie-Menson
My campaign focuses on the slow progress of cladding remediation and highlights the failure of the Grenfell inquiry to make real change. Mr Millet acknowledges that “It is open to you on the evidence to conclude that there was a long run-up of incompetence and poor practises in the construction industry and the fire engineering and architect’s profession:and possibly even dishonest practises in the cladding and insulation materials manufacturing sector” He says “there was complex opaque and piecemeal legislation, and an over-reliance by law and policymakers on guidance, some of which was dangerously out of date and much of it was influenced by commercial interests.” Despite what he’s said, change is not being made quickly enough!
The 2024 Dagenham fire—miraculously—did not kill anyone. But luck is not a safety policy. Seven years after Grenfell, social housing remains a death trap for thousands. Despite inquiries, promises, and legislation, the pace of fire safety upgrades is glacial, and residents are left in dangerous homes while bureaucrats and builders drag their feet.
This is not just incompetence—it is systemic neglect. And it must end now.
The Scale of the Crisis: By the Numbers
- Over 3,000 high-rise buildings in England still have unsafe cladding. (Building Safety Regulator, 2024)
- Only 53% of social housing blocks identified as high-risk have completed remediation. (National Housing Federation, 2023)
- 1 in 4 social housing residents say their building has no working fire alarms or inadequate fire safety measures. (Shelter, 2024)
- 1 in 10 social housing tenants have reported fire hazards (faulty wiring, blocked escapes, missing fire doors) that landlords have failed to fix. (Citizens Advice, 2024)
- 78% of social housing residents in high-rises say they do not feel safe in their homes. (Grenfell United Survey, 2023)
The Dagenham Fire: A Near-Miss That Exposed the System
- The June 2024 Dagenham fire ripped through a 20-storey block with no sprinklers and faulty compartmentation—just like Grenfell.
- Firefighters admitted the blaze could have been fatal if it had started at night. (London Fire Brigade report, 2024)
- The block had known fire safety issues since 2020—but remediation was delayed due to "funding disputes." (Barking & Dagenham Council, 2024)
Why Is This Still Happening? The Root Causes
- Underfunding & Bureaucracy
- The £5.1bn Building Safety Fund has been plagued by slow payouts, leaving councils and housing associations struggling to pay for upgrades.
- Private contractors charge inflated prices for remediation, while social landlords wait for government approval.
- Lack of Accountability
- No major prosecutions have been brought against construction firms or material manufacturers responsible for flammable cladding.
- Housing associations and councils face no penalties for delays in fire safety works.
- Weak Regulations & Industry Lobbying
- Fire safety guidance is still not legally binding in all cases, allowing developers to cut corners.
- The construction industry has lobbied against stricter rules, delaying nationwide upgrades.
Proposed solutions:
- Fast-Track Funding
- Release unspent £2bn Building Safety Fund immediately with strict deadlines.
- Penalise councils/housing associations that miss targets.
- Enforce Minimum Standards
Legally require:
- Working smoke alarms in all flats & communal areas
- Proper fire doors
- Sprinklers in high-rises
- Publish inspection results quarterly.
- Hold Negligent Parties Accountable
- Blacklist contractors with fire safety failures.
- Prosecute landlords who ignore risks.
- Transparency
- Public dashboard tracking all at-risk blocks & progress.
- Tenant Support
- Free hotline for hazard reporting (48-hour response).
- Legal aid for tenants to challenge landlords.
Conclusion: No More Excuses, No More Fires
Grenfell should have been the last fire. Dagenham should have been the final warning. How many more near-misses before the next tragedy?
The solutions exist. The money exists. The only thing missing is political will.
Join the Fight:
🔥 Demand action from your MP
🔥 Expose unsafe housing – Share your story
🔥 Support tenant unions – Organise for your right to a safe home
This ends when we force it to end.