Residents who lost their homes due to fire launch High Court claim against developer and housing association

Fifty victims of a fire in south-west London in 2019 have this month issued a High Court claim against Metropolitan Thames Valley (MTVH) housing association and house builder St James.

Law firm Bindmans said the claimants, consisting of shared owners, leaseholders and their families, are seeking damages for their injuries, lost possessions and the discomfort and inconvenience they have suffered due to the loss of their homes at Richmond House.

The property, which was destroyed by the fire in September 2019, was first developed by St James, part of the Berkeley Group, in 2010 before being sold on to MTVH.

The claimants are being advised by Christian Hansen from the Bindmans Solicitors Housing team.

Berkeley declined to provide Local Government Lawyer with a new statement in response to the High Court claim being issued. It is understood not to have yet been served with the claim.

However, a spokesperson drew attention to previous comments in which the Berkeley Group said: “Compensation has been paid to residents and those that wished to do so have been able to sell their flats back to the owner, MTVH.”

A spokesperson for MTVH said: “This has been a distressing time for our residents as they have sought to resolve this claim, and our focus has been on doing the right thing by them. At each stage of this process we have acted in good faith, working towards a mediation within a timetable agreed between the parties.

“It is regrettable that for reasons outside of our control, mediation to date has not been possible. We will work constructively, as we have done throughout, and are hopeful that the parties can arrive at a resolution that will help to bring some closure.

“Meanwhile, over the coming months we will be welcoming back those residents who have chosen to return to Richmond House and doing all that we can to help them to settle back in.”

Harry Rodd