HomeGround

Statement to our residents from HomeGround on the Grenfell Tower Fire

All of the team at HomeGround were very shocked and distressed by the tragic loss of life as well as the destruction of so many families’ homes caused by the fire that engulfed the Grenfell Tower in North Kensington during the early hours of Wednesday 14th June. Our thoughts are very much with the victims, their families and friends, and the members of the rescue and emergency services who did, and continue to do, so much to try and help the residents and the local community.

As Landlords’ agents responsible for the administration of a large portfolio of residential properties, including many blocks of flats, we would like to assure you that we take the safety of our residents very seriously.

As part of our supervision of and liaison with the managing agents we appoint to look after the properties on a day to day basis, we focus on their compliance with current health and safety and risk assessment requirements, including how quickly and effectively they deal with any risks which may be identified during the regular risk assessments carried out at each and every property. If an issue is identified at any of our properties which may increase the risk of fire or might otherwise impact the safety of residents, we will then work closely with a number of stakeholders which may include one or all of the managing agent, the building insurer, local Fire Authorities, and any independent experts appointed to find a suitable resolution to address the problem and improve the safety of the property.

If any of our residents are worried about the way in which fire safety in their building is being managed, they must contact our Estates Management team (estatesmanagement@homegroundonline.com) giving the details of their concerns, so that we can ensure this is taken up with the managing agent or responsible management company.

The plight of the residents of Grenfell Tower is one which no Landlord would ever want to see repeated, and both we and our clients wish to help rebuild the lives of the bereaved and surviving individuals and families. We are also deeply grateful for the professionalism of the UK Fire & Rescue Services, and the work they do to raise awareness of safety standards up and down the country, as well as saving lives when responding to incidents like this terrible fire.

We are therefore making a donation to the charities raising funds for the Grenfell Tower fire, to be divided equally between the British Red Cross London Fire Relief Fund, and The Fire Fighters Charity. We also hope that the investigation into the causes of the Grenfell Tower fire, and why so many people lost their lives, results in further improvements to safety as well as an enhanced awareness of fire safety across the UK.