The project includes the rebuilding of Richmond House, destroyed in the Worcester Park fire in September 2019.
The works comprise:
A revised planning application was made in October 2021. This application is related to; raising the building height by 1.5m (and the roof pitch angle changed), locating the sprinkler tank in the basement, cycle store extension to house the backup generator, and addressing building control conditions. The planning application was granted permission on 07/07/22.
Network Rail images: The mural displays the Worcester Park town centre name and also features 24 butterflies. Each butterfly represents one of the Richmond House families who lost their home.
NewmanFrancis has been appointed to work closely with Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing (MTVH) as part of its engagement program to deliver ongoing engagement to Richmond House residents. Our role encompasses many areas: housing, the rebuild of Richmond House, health and safety, and wellbeing.
Our day-to-day tasks include:
· Supporting the rebuild steering group (RSG)
· Developing the MTVH action plan, which prioritises what is important to residents
· Providing an outreach team to obtain the views of the residents to feed into the RSG
· Collaborating with the RSG to keep residents informed through regular meetings
· Facilitating a memorandum of understanding between the residents and Sutton Council
· Coordinating with MTVH and the residents to create the residents’ charter
Since 2019 Newman Francis has continued to support MTVH and the residents as they move forward with their aims and ambitions.
“A key part of our involvement is our regular outreach sessions. This is where we call up and talk to residents – we keep them informed about what is happening as they are all living in different locations. We listen to their concerns and obtain answers to their questions. We also take up their issues, form recommendations/suggestions, and represent them to MTVH on their behalf. Residents feel confident to come and talk to us, knowing they’ll get a helpful and professional response.”
Our availability to the residents has remained at 6 days per week and 24 hours. The confidentiality imparted to us by each household has become paramount, especially via the dedicated one-to-one support service. Chiefly, the long-term goals include enabling the residents to successfully move on in their lives.
Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing
Sutton London Borough Council
Ridge (Property and Construction Consultancy)
Cavendish Advocacy – Political and Corporate Communications
BB7 – Independent fire engineers
Boom Construction Limited – Main contractor
For more information, you can get in touch by calling us on 0800 644 6040 (Freephone), or email us at richmondhouse@newmanfrancis.org
Q: What kind of financial assistance can the landlord provide to help our family move into a permanent home?
The landlord provided financial assistance to the previous Richmond House residents who moved into permanent homes. It included covering moving expenses costs such as disassembling, packing, transporting, and reassembling residents’ belongings. In addition, the landlord has waived rent on temporary accommodations, with a two-month waiver for one household to help them adjust to their permanent home. For more information about the financial assistance provided by your landlord, please refer to the latest version of the Residents’ Charter sent to you on 27/03/2023.
Q: When should we begin the process of selling our equity? We have not got an update on the rebuild completion time.
It is advisable for your household to regularly request a clear and realistic updated timeline from MTVH. It will help you to understand when you need to start the process of selling your equity. To help you do that, request regular updates from MTVH about the progress of the rebuild. Presently, your household should be working with the unchanged timeline that your landlord has provided. And please remember that your landlord has written that the buyback option is only available up to 6 months before the rebuild completion of Richmond House.
Q: As meetings are videoed now, does this mean we don’t need to minute the meetings?
While meetings may now be videoed, it is still important to have minutes to provide a written record of what was discussed and any decisions that were made (and that there is a written record distributed to all residents that can be used to support any disputes that may arise. Minutes also help to ensure that everyone is on the same page and can refer back to previous discussions if needed.
Q: How can I be sure I’m going back into a safer building?
Throughout the rebuild and post-rebuild, your landlord has committed to regularly assuring you that health and safety legislation is being adhered to. You can also obtain regulatory information your landlord must follow from the Regulator of Social Housing on its Home Standards page.
Q: Are we entitled to compensation for other losses?
This fact sheet produced by the Housing Ombudsman Service may be useful to residents. Other losses are described on the Shelter website found here.
Q: What is the Residents’ Charter?
It sets out the commitments made by MTVH, including the associated level of service residents can expect from MTVH. Information for these commitments was and is obtained from; the minutes of meetings, emails, newsletters, MTVH websites, and MTVH individual communications to residents.
Q: When will the rebuild of Richmond House begin?
We will know shortly as the main contractor has just been announced. More information about them can be found in the ‘Useful Links and Documents’ section below.
Q: What is the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the residents and Sutton Council?
The document sets out the roles and responsibilities of the Council throughout the rebuild of Richmond House. The Council has been engaged by the residents to support them to carry out stringent oversight throughout the rebuild of their homes.
Q: What caused the rebuild of Richmond House delay?
Due to the requirements of the building regulations, in relation to the fire, MTVH had to go back to planning. MTVH also had to try an alternative route through the procurement of the main contractor. A link to the Richmond House planning documentation can be found in the ‘Useful Links and Documents’ section below.
Q: What is ‘staircasing’ with shared ownership?
It relates to buying a greater share of your property from MTVH. Increasing your share of the property depends on the market value at the time. Further shared ownerships rights are described on the Shelter website found here.
Q: Is there going to be some point where residents will receive notice suddenly saying there is no more alternative accommodation budget?
There is no point when the temporary accommodation will be suddenly withdrawn. There is no deadline. MTVH are committed to providing temporary accommodation until Richmond house is rebuilt and ready to move in to.
Q: If taking the buyback, what happens about the payments for the temporary accommodation?
Where residents are in rented accommodation, MTVH will cover all residents’ rent obligations until the point that the buyback is complete, with a reasonable grace period of c. 2 weeks provided to enable them to vacate the rental property. If the tenant’s obligations to the landlord, as detailed in the tenancy agreement, mean that the tenancy cannot be terminated at this date, MTVH will cover any additional associated rental costs until such time as it can be terminated.
Q: Legal advice?
As independent advisors, we are here to provide valuable guidance and support in various areas. It is important to note that we are not legal professionals and cannot offer any legal advice. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is an authoritative resource.
Q: Can we still contact you even if you are no longer employed by Sutton Council or MTVH?
Yes. We have informed your landlord and the Council that we will take calls from residents – including previous residents.
We hope you’ve enjoyed using the FAQs! Would you consider leaving us a review?
You can do this using the ‘Get in touch’ section. Thank you.
October 2022
Boom Construction Ltd takes control of the rebuild site for Richmond House – Click here to read
July 2022
Main Contractor for the rebuild of Richmond House announced – Click here to read
June 2022
Frequently Asked Questions, including the latest update for Richmond House – Click here to read
MTVH research
30-11-2022_Rebuild-Meeting_Infosheet
05-10-2022_Residents-Only_Infosheet
MTVH residents’ portal (requires a login id and password) – Click here to enter
For access, email: TheHamptons@becg.com
Richmond House rebuild planning documentation – Click here to read
How to increase your share of your shared ownership property – Click here to read
About the main contractor, Boom Construction Limited – Click here to read
Residents engagement: Get involved – Click here to read
MTVH Worcester Park Fire page – Click here to read
MTVH Board: Serving people better every day – Click here to read
MTVH complaints and compensation policies – Click here to read
Residents’ research
Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 – Click here to read
The Tenant Satisfaction Measures Standard – Click here to read
Resident Panel will allow tenants who live in social housing to be heard directly by government – Click here to read
The Leaseholder Advisory Service: Right to Manage – Click here to read
Right to Manage and management disputes – Click here to read
Guidance: Tenant Involvement and Empowerment Standard – Click here to read
The Leaseholder Charity – Click here to read
Leasehold reform: What’s happening and when? – Click here to read
New plan to protect leaseholders – Click here to read
Home loss payment – Click here to read
Shared Ownership: Staircasing – Click here to read
How to complain to your landlord – Click here to read
Leasehold disputes – Click here to read
Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (Social housing) – Click here to read
Richmond House in the news
A resident of the Richmond House timber frame fire talks to Newsnight – Click here to watch
‘We lost over £40k in the Richmond House fire’ – Click here to read
Amendment 115 – Building Safety Bill – Report – Click here to read
A mural to remember families who lost their homes in the fire – Click here to read
MP demonstrates fire safety regulations, cladding, and 18 metres high buildings, using Richmond House – Click here to watch
Richmond House residents submit evidence to Parliament – Click here to read
‘My family almost died in a fire in a building below 18m.’ – Click here to read
‘After the Richmond House fire …’ – Click here to read
Inside Housing reveals key findings – Click here to read
Fire Protection Association: Worcester Park Fire – discussed – Click here to read
Richmond House resident describes a year after the fire – Click here to read
Residents describe their devastation on BBC’s Newsnight – Click here to watch