Three residents have now moved back to the rebuilt Richmond House flats in Worcester Park, London, following the fire which destroyed the building in 2019, including Agnese De Masi. Ms De Masi describes how she and the other residents still live in fear, particularly as the fire alarm has sounded several times since she returned.

Christian Hansen, partner in our Housing team, who represents the Richmond House residents, said:

Since the Grenfell Tower tragedy, it’s come to light that there are thousands of buildings across the country, which have been constructed with inadequate fire safety measures.

He goes on to say that most of the Richmond House residents…

Suffered traumatic psychological injuries on the night of the fire. Having to go through a years-long battle with the constructors and the freeholders in their claim for compensation, was in many cases re-traumatising and actually exacerbated the symptoms they were suffering.

Christian Hansen also likened the fire at Richmond House to that at the Spectrum building in Dagenham, which was destroyed by fire in August last year – and whose residents he also represents.

You can read the full BBC article here.