In a regulatory notice the Regulator of Social Housing has concluded that the London Borough of Camden has breached its consumer standards.

The regulator’s investigation revealed that over 9,000 fire safety actions are overdue in social homes owned by the Council.

The regulator also found that over 9,000 homes do not have a smoke alarm installed and around 4,000 homes do not have a carbon monoxide detector fitted.

The RSH said that the evidence demonstrates a failure by the Council to complete all fire safety actions in a timely manner and to mitigate the risks to tenants in the meantime.

The regulator has also said that it expects the Council to take urgent action to address these failings. The council is now engaging with the regulator as it works to return to compliance.

Kate Dodsworth, chief of regulatory engagement at RSH, said: “Through our investigation, we found that Camden Council has failed to address thousands of fire safety actions in its tenants’ homes. This is unacceptable and has put tenants at potential risk of harm. The Council needs to act urgently to put things right, and we will scrutinise it closely as it does this.

“Our findings send a clear message to all social landlords that meeting health and safety requirements is of paramount importance. Tenants deserve to live in safe and decent homes, and we will take action when landlords breach our standards.”

Councillor Georgia Gould, leader of Camden Council, said: “There is nothing more important than the safety of our residents and we are taking this notice very seriously.

“Following the Regulator’s report and advice, Camden is further boosting its current action by:

• Introducing monthly reporting to members of the Housing Scrutiny Committee and Fire Safety and Compliance Advisory Panel which we will publish on the council website
• Detailed updates each quarter to our Fire Safety and Compliance Advisory Panel
• Strengthening existing processes so we can address all high-risk actions within their recommended timescales
• Working to engage with residents and find new ways to improve access to homes (currently we are finding it difficult to access up to 40% of homes to apply our smoke detector programme), this includes a new universal key system for our street property communal areas so we can keep everyone safe.”