Residents left in dire damp and mould conditions by Lewisham Council have been awarded tens of thousands of pounds.
The Housing Ombudsman awarded the money after it found three findings of severe maladministration by the council.
Half of the compensation awarded went to one family who were left living in a damp house where mould was discovered on a baby’s cot.
Richard Blakeway, Housing Ombudsman, said: ‘These are three significant cases for learning from damp and mould. Until recently, this is an area that has not always been taken sufficiently seriously or tackled urgently by landlords, sometimes leaving residents in unhabitable homes and conditions they would never live in themselves.
‘The financial awards at this level are unusual, reflecting the impact on the residents and the prolonged period of service failure they experienced.’
A Lewisham Council spokesperson said: ‘We have identified in all three cases our failures could have been prevented by better record keeping; better communication within the organisation and with our residents regarding their complaints; and a more pro-active/preventative approach to repairs and maintenance.
‘Since taking over from Lewisham Homes in October, the Council has taken steps to improve services.’
