THOUSANDS of tenants and leaseholders in Redbridge will miss out on a £39 million grant to improve their dilapidated homes because the borough has failed a vital test.

Dozens of building projects, such as a new swimming pool, could also now be in doubt as the authority struggles to plug the funding gap caused by its homes scoring just one star in an Audit Commission report.

If the authority had received two stars or more it would have received the massive financial boost with which it planned to improve housing standards still further.

And the failure comes despite the council spending an extra £325,000 of taxpayers’ money last autumn in a last-ditch attempt to pass the test.

Redbridge now faces a future where, according to the council’s own documents, “residents will be waiting even longer for their homes to be brought up to the decent homes standard and there could be additional pressures on the council’s capital funding.”

But the news has come as no surprise to many of the council’s 4,700 tenants and 2,337 leaseholders.

Beryl Thornton, Chair of the Carlton Terrace Residents Association in Wanstead, was interviewed by the Audit Commission during its inspection.

She said: “The Audit Commission are so right in what they’re saying.

“It’s a scandal the way the council have been treating people.

“When I told the inspectors of the problems we’d been having they just stared at me as if they were shocked.”

Tenant Anette Challenger, also of Carlton Terrace, added: "I've been sleeping in my front room for well over a year because the ceiling in my bedroom collapsed and the council still hasn't fixed it.

"They said they were hoping to start work in June but now I've been told they won't do it until later in the summer, but I won't believe it until I see the scaffolding go up."

The borough has the smallest public housing stock in London, with many residents claiming it has been neglected and forgotten over the years.

When the current mayor, Thomas Chan, was cabinet member for housing last year he said he would demolish the entire stock if he could.

Cathy Johns, 68, of Copford Close in Woodford Bridge said: “The council just don’t do enough repairs. Only last weekend we had to repair some of our drain pipes ourselves because we were so desperate.”

The Audit Commission report found that the quality of repairs and the condition of ready to let homes in the borough was “variable”.

There was also criticism over poor debt advice for tenants and “high” management costs.

However the commission did say that the overall level of service was “fair”, and that it was “likely” that things would improve.

Inspectors also singled out estate caretakers for special praise.

COUNCIL: WE ARE SORRY

Sharon Standell, Chief Executive of Redbridge Homes, said “We know that any delay of funding will affect residents but we are working hard to put improvements in place to ensure the delay is minimised for residents.

"We have taken into account all the areas that need improving and have a comprehensive action plan to ensure all the improvements are in place for the next inspection.

"We will continue our preparations for the Decent Homes programme so that when the next inspection results are announced we will be in a position to start work immediately.”

Cllr Robin Turbefield, Cabinet member for Housing at Redbridge Council, said: “I’m sorry that tenants will now have to wait longer for their homes to be improved as a result of this disappointing assessment.

"As the new cabinet member for housing, I'd like to reassure tenants that improving Redbridge Homes is my number one priority.

"I will be working closely with Redbridge Homes and council officers in the Borough to ensure the service to tenants improves and that we achieve the necessary rating at the next inspection.”

Christine Lee, Chair of Redbridge Homes, added: “We are working with the Audit Commission to arrange a re-inspection as soon as possible. I am confident that we will be able to achieve the two stars that mean we can get the funding to carry out the decent homes improvements.”

Adrian Brown, a senior manager with the Audit Commission, said: “Redbridge Homes’ services to residents are generally of an acceptable standard, but the organisation does not ensure that the quality of service is consistent for all customers.”

"While tenants receive a quick response to repairs the quality of the work is variable.

"In these difficult economic times, the amount of debt advice available for residents is limited.

"However, residents are being actively engaged in improving services and the organisation has a good track record of delivering improvements so the prospects for improvement are promising."