My name is Martin, and I’m the recently elected chair of the Coniston House Tenants and Residents Association.
We formed the Association in response to the absolute mess registered social landlord Eastend Homes and their contractor, Gracewood, are making in their project to add floors to our building.
Building additional floors on an occupied building is always an incredibly risky undertaking. Building on a 1968 building, which was a testbed for pioneering designs, some of which would later be replicated across the Borough, would require even more care.
The project has not gone well. Timescales have slipped, and water from the now-damaged roof or from the now-damaged shared water mains is leaking into almost every one of the maisonettes in Coniston House.
The leaks started in earnest when heavy rain fell following demolition work on the roof in September 2023.
There are a lucky few of us who Eeastend Homes have rehoused in temporary accommodation since February 2024.
However, Eastend Homes is now terminating temporary accommodation for those who are privately renting from leaseholders. This is absolutely disgraceful, as neither private renters nor leaseholders are at fault. It was not their choice to go ahead with the project. It also makes no sense, as Eastend Homes will have to compensate leaseholders for their lost rent.
Tragically, this decision will result in private renters, some of the most vulnerable but with the least legal protection, being made homeless.
The London Borough of Tower Hamlets and, ultimately, the residents who pay their taxes should not be expected to foot the cost of the consequences of Eastend Homes’ decision to proceed with this project, but it seems we will have no choice.
Councillor Mohammad Chowdhury, at the recent Housing & Regeneration Scrutiny Sub Committee, lamented his helplessness in dealing with Eastend Homes. (see his question from about 1hr 49min on the video recording: https://towerhamlets.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/874114).
I’m sure readers will be horrified to learn that people are still living in the building.
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