The Regulator of Social Housing’s investigation into Clarion’s Eastfields Estate “did not find evidence of systemic or organisational failure which indicates a breach of the consumer standards.”

The investigation came after the estate was highlighted by ITV News for widespread damp and mould issues.

In a full statement, the Regulator said: “We received a referral from Clarion Housing Association in relation to homes on its Eastfields Estate in Merton. Whilst there were clearly individual repairs issues which required resolution, our investigation did not find evidence of systemic or organisational failure which indicates a breach of the consumer standards.”

At Eastfields Estate, ITV highlighted Janet’s story, who’s bathroom was rotting and rats were getting into the home freely.

Janet, who lived in the home for 27 years, described how she can’t sleep for the sound of the rodents.

Another story came from Juliet, who complained of a ceiling leak in June last year. By the November nothing had been done about it and the ceiling collapsed. There is still a large hole in the ceiling where that happened. Her children were studying close to where the roof collapsed.

When asked about why Clarion tenants have to live in “such squalor”, Clarion’s Vicky Bonner, Director of Housing, said: “Getting the balance right between how much you spend in the short and long term on an estate that has ultimately come to the end of its life is difficult.

“I’m absolutely clear that we have not got the balance right on the Eastfields Estate and I’d like to apologise on behalf of Clarion to all of those residents.”

When asked about whether Clarion doesn’t care about its tenants and whether she could live in the conditions tenants have been expected to, Bonner responded: “No I couldn’t and I am really sorry that any Clarion resident has been put in that position and we are working with these individuals that you’ve talked about and we are working to look at what we can do but I am so sorry that Clarion residents have not had the service that they deserve.”