It’s a good thing I’ve already meditated this morning because this is the kind of news that makes you want to punch a wall. Newham Council—the same council that led the way in selective licensing and has been tougher on private landlords than almost any other—has been found to have “serious failings” in maintaining its own properties. An astonishing 40% of its council homes haven’t had an electrical test in over 11 years, with more than 8,000 fire safety issues overdue by more than a year. So much for cracking down on rogue landlords, right?
