Ten new contractors and the council’s own in-house repairs team have taken over responsibility for repairs and maintenance at council properties, as part of Lambeth’s drive to improve standards and services for residents.
“Community Works” and five of the new contractors (Fortem, T Brown, MPS, NRT and RJ Lifts) will be working in Lambeth’s North housing area to provide Communal repairs, Repairs to homes and estates, Communal boiler servicing, Gas safety inspections, Electrical safety inspections and Lift maintenance.
In the South area, the same services will be provided by Community Works and five new contractors (Wates, OCO, T-Brown, OpenView and Amalgamated Lifts).
However, the way residents book a repair IS NOT changing: non-emergency council housing repairs can be booked on our website or by phoning the call centre on 020 7926 6000. Emergency repairs should only be requested by phoning the call centre.
The call centre number is open Monday–Friday 8am to 8pm and Saturdays 8am to 1pm. If anyone has an emergency outside these hours, they should call 020 7926 6666. This number is for emergencies only.
During the changeover, there are likely to be some delays completing non-emergency repairs reported over the next week, which will be put on hold for a short time to allow the new contractors time to set up. The new teams will contact residents with an existing repair, as soon as possible to confirm a date to complete the job.
Lambeth will do everything it can to minimise any disruptions to residents during the changeover. But if anyone has concerns or questions about the new contractors in their area, they should contact the repairs contract helpline at RCHelpline@lambeth.gov.uk or 020 7926 9995.
In a letter to residents, informing them of the changes, Cllr Maria Kay, Lambeth Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness, said: “Getting to this point has been a collaborative between the council and residents, who have been widely consulted during the whole process of agreeing these new contractors, and we will continue to ensure residents are involved in monitoring the services to make sure the contractors do a great job for Lambeth.
“We’re determined that these changes will ensure that all our tenants can expect better quality and more socially responsible services from us in the future.”
The council’s Cabinet voted to award six-year repairs contracts worth a combined £35m a year, for vital services including responsive repairs, gas and water systems and lift maintenance.
The decision is the latest step in Lambeth’s commitment to radically redesign its repair and maintenance services to provide better quality, socially responsible and digitally-driven services.
A copy of the letter sent to council properties in the North area of the borough is below.
Resident Letter Repairs North
