Harriet Harman MP has today written to Southwark Council calling on them to review their reimbursement and compensation policy for estate residents in Camberwell and Peckham following the continuous disruption to hot water and heating services.

This is a major problem as nearly 4000 properties have been affected in Camberwell and Peckham in the last 18 months.

Harriet Harman MP for Camberwell & Peckham said:

 “My constituents are experiencing repeated problems with their heating and hot water services this winter. I have today written to Councillor Richard Livingstone, Cabinet Member for Housing at Southwark Council asking him to review the Council’s reimbursement and compensation policy to ensure that the process for affected residents is straightforward, fair and efficient.

• Residents should not have to apply to the Council for compensation when it is clear that there is a loss of an essential service like heating, hot water or gas. The council should automatically compensate them.

• Residents should be reimbursed for the additional energy costs incurred during the period without heating and hot water.

• Residents expect a reliable heating and hot water service and it is inconvenient for them to have to deal with these disruptions on such regular basis.

• There should not have to be a consecutive period of 24 hours without heating and hot water before a rebate is given.

• The compensation process is taking too long. It has taken nearly a year for all residents on the Gloucester Grove and North Peckham Estates to receive their agreed compensation, and some people may have moved out and not received what they are owed “