Bindmans have issued a High Court claim on behalf of 50 claimants against the housing association and developer connected to the Richmond House fire. Christian Hansen of our public law and housing specialist team continues to act in relation to the matter. The latest developments in the case have been covered by Inside Housing magazine in a recent article here.

Richmond House, a four-storey block on the Worcester Park estate, burned to the ground in September 2019, with all 23 flats destroyed and many residents injured. On Thursday 4 April, the former residents and their families lodged a High Court claim against the constructor, St James Ltd, part of the Berkeley Group PLC, and against the freeholder, Metropolitan Thames Valley housing association. The residents are claiming damages for their injuries, lost possessions, and for the discomfort and inconvenience they have suffered due to the loss of their homes. Additional background on the case can be found here.

In the Inside Housing article, Solicitor Christian Hansen from our Housing team commented:

Developers should not be able to build and sell unsafe homes and then just shrug their shoulders and show no concern for the victims of their tragic mistakes.

This case has received significant attention, including numerous mentions in parliament, as previously noted in our updates here and here.