A council in London is currently in the process of selling 14 properties that were originally obtained to accommodate survivors of the tragic Grenfell Tower fire. These properties have been deemed unfit for rental due to their poor condition. The Kensington and Chelsea Council made the decision to purchase a total of 290 properties following the devastating fire in June 2017, which claimed the lives of 72 individuals and left over 70 injured.
According to a council report, the decision to acquire these properties was made with the intention of providing quick housing solutions for the displaced residents. However, it has now become apparent that some of the properties are not suitable to meet the high safety standards required for social housing. The council acknowledged that more detailed information and different circumstances could have impacted their purchasing decisions.
Emma O’Connor, a survivor of the Grenfell Tower fire, criticized the council for not taking the necessary precautions and rushing through decisions without proper investigation. O’Connor emphasized the importance of prioritizing human lives over financial considerations, stating that fire safety cannot be compromised. The survivor group Grenfell Next of Kin condemned the government’s decision to grant the council full control over post-fire operations without proper oversight, citing it as a significant error.
Despite the setbacks with the unsuitable properties, Kensington and Chelsea Council assured that residents were promptly relocated once issues were identified. Some of the purchased homes were never inhabited due to safety concerns such as unorthodox layouts and fire escape obstacles. The council plans to reinvest the proceeds from the property sales back into social housing efforts within the borough. In another development, the government announced plans for the gradual dismantling of the Grenfell Tower, with the process expected to span over two years and proceed with sensitivity to the memory of the disaster
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